David Donohoe // Fen Tape

Sound artist/bird watcher David Donohoe from Dublin, IrelandJanuary 2023It is a cassette released in a limited edition of 100 from dinzu artefacts, a monotone label in LA, USA.

Contains field recordings, synths, and two deep-listening sound drones with tuned percussion, 2 minutes. Comes with DL code.

The following is a commentary by the writer himself.

"Fen is a work that selectively evokes and evokes Fenland, County Kildare. It focuses on the vocalizations and physical communication sounds of three species of birds: Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler (both summer migratory birds) and Snipe. (Snipe) field recordings, tuned percussion, and synthesizer textures.

As a bird watcher and sound recorder, I am fascinated by bird communication and language.The idiosyncratic sounds produced by these birds (with their noses and wings) are mechanical and almost synthetic tones.A grasshopper's call travels in wide arcs as it rotates its head, creating a diffusion that is difficult to pinpoint to a specific location.The frenzied mimicry and mechanical vocalization of the warbler is a perfect example of sampling and cut-up.Sandpipers create territorial "winnowings" by vibrating their two tail feathers when diving, which is of particular interest for non-verbal communication.

Birds have been a constant presence in human evolution and their calls are deeply rooted in our culture.However, when we hear the song of a certain bird, we suddenly realize how different that bird is.This "foreign thing" is the sound that captures my heart.These sounds form the threads of a place as essential as the geological accident that defines this terrain, this habitat as Fen."

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Includes DL code. Edition of 100.

Artist statement by  David Donohoe :

"Fen is a selective evocation and invocation of a Kildare fenland. Focusing on the vocalisations and physical communication sounds of three bird species, it is comprised of field recordings of Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler (both Summer migrant breeders) and Snipe (resident breeder) , alongside tuned percussion and synthesizer textures.

As a birdwatcher and sound recordist the communication and language of birds fascinates me. The singular sounds made by the these species (either by syrinx or feather) have mechanical, almost synthetic timbres. The Grasshopper Warbler's continuous static reeling call, projected in a wide arc as it turns its head, creates a diffusion difficult to pinpoint to a specific location. The frenetic mimicry of the Sedge Warbler interspersed with its mechanical rattling very literally embodies sampling and the Cut-up. The Snipe with its uncanny 'winnowing' territorial projections made by the vibration of two tail-feathers during display dives is especially interesting as a non-vocal communication.

Birds have been a continuous presence across human evolution and their calls are deeply culturally ingrained in us. of how utterly alien they are to us. It is precisely the 'otherness' of these particular sounds that I find so captivating. Simultaneously palpable and ineffable, these sounds form an intrinsic thread of place as quintessential as the geological accidents that define this terrain, this habitat, as Fen."

Artist: David Donohoe

Label: Dinzu Artefacts