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Reviews

Simon Scott — FloodLines
(Touch Tone 53, 2016, CD)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2016-08-30

FloodLines Cover art

The promo material describes Simon Scott as a UK sound ecologist. Sound ecology appears to be an academic discipline for studying the effects of sound (natural and manmade) on the environment. In addition to being a sound ecologist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Simon Scott has explored electroacoustic music for the past 14 years. On January 21, 2016 Simon performed “FloodLines” at the Cafe OTO in London as part of Touch Presents… and this performance is now available on CD as FloodLines. Scott manipulates field recordings of water, insects, birds, and manmade sounds and mixes them in real time with electronics, effects, and keyboards to create the continuously shifting soundscape “FloodLines.” Some of the material is so heavily processed that the source is unrecognizable. Never static, the composition requires a considerable amount of active listening to appreciate. Otherwise it is reduced to background noise. I am not all sure what message Scott is trying to convey via “FloodLine” as most of the 30 minutes is composed of white noise and various water sounds. Given the cover art, I suppose “FloodLines” is the musical equivalent of rising water after a heavy rain, but this interpretation is quite a stretch. If you are a fan of abstract amorphous soundscapes, then FloodLines is for you.

Filed under: New releases, 2016 releases

Related artist(s): Simon Scott

 

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