I think the piece is successful albeit a little simple and rough around the edges. I really challenged myself to listen hard to mix everything evenly even when quiet. I’m not sure if the ideas behind it are conveyed directly, especially the uncanny in between reality theme, but the senses of nostalgia, identity, memory, intimacy, reality etc. I feel are there.
I have already mentioned a little on how I could progress with this piece but I also have some ideas on somethings I could do completely differently.
Firstly I think it might be interesting to mix this for a multichannel setting. Whereby each track has its own speaker and the listener can walk closer to hear each one clearly, adding an element of interactivity perhaps more in a exhibition setting. Or having the listener in a particular spot and moving the recordings around the space playing with fake distance to immerse the audience into a dream almost.
Another way I thought I could bring interactivity in was by allowing the listener to mix it themselves. I’m not sure how I could do this but perhaps a simple app with sliders for each track so that whilst listening they can customise what configuration of field recordings they want to hear meaning no two listens would be the same.
Working with words albeit very few also made me consider how this could be adapted and lengthened for radio. Perhaps a fake full length documentary, blurring reality and fiction where people tell stories real or imagined related to the field recordings played on top. Getting an insight into whatever side of something (memory/mind?) they present. Using a new persons field recordings for each show. Even if not for radio this could be a series of short pieces evoking different memories, realities and identities if I continue to record these “field notes”.
Finally looping back to the original idea to improvise with field recordings in a live setting. Using a sampler or maybe dj decks to mix together pre prepared field recordings but exploring different combinations live. Even improvising in a group setting with other instruments and noise. Tata and I already do no-input and guitar and have been talking a while about adding more textures through field recording.