Initial Sounds

Inspired by Stuart Hyatt’s audio field recordings, musicians from around the world have contributed complex sonic narratives under the Field Works banner. Each album begins with Hyatt’s samples and soundscapes from a particular time and location, weaving them into musical phrases and ultimately into song cycles intended to give the listener a heightened and more nuanced sense of place. Initial Sounds is a two-album set containing ancient sounds from deep space and deep within our planet. Part 1 explores earth’s primordial soundscape, from glaciers to volcanoes. Part 2 expands into outer space by sampling the chirps of gravitational waves. Music by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Dan Deacon, The Field, Pantha du Prince, Gazelle Twin, Visible Cloaks, and Stuart Hyatt. Visual Art by Nina Elder.