Topos

Topos (2007)

1.Poori 15:26

2.Andros 11:18

4. Tracker 23:18

The influence of place is undeniable. In this recording, Topos aims to capture the influences of unique places into a set of sonic meditations. After five plus years of exploring the Greek Islands of the Cyclades, I wanted to capture and preserve the essence of these amazing places, or perhaps more accurately, try to retain the beneficial end results of unique places on body and mind. We can take pictures of a place; we can record the sounds of a place; we can video a place; we can measure and map a place, but still the essence I wanted to preserve has not been captured. A painting could be closer, but I was interested in making a sonic painting of the affects of place. I wanted to see if the essence of a place could be preserved, imprinted, and encoded into a sonic weaving of timber, tone, color, texture, and rhythm so that this place could be “visited” any time by just listening. The dream-like light of the Mediterranean, the salty wind, sand, rocks, waves, fish, mountains, fresh water springs, and the ever-present sun, moon and stars: the affect of these places cannot be captured in words, so Topos is my sonic simulacra.

Poori is, or was, an unblemished natural beach on the island of Koufonissi. It has since, unfortunately, been developed. My memory of this place is one of the most peaceful, beautiful places I have ever been and am glad to have preserved my subjective experience in sonic form.

Andros is the northernmost island of the Greek Cyclades archipelago. It is very green and extremely windy. It has a chthonic feel and it’s deep history is hauntingly evident everywhere.

Simulacra Simulacra reminds me most of being stranded on the island of Amorgos- the waves and wind preventing any ship from leaving. Amorgos is a towering mountain rising from the sea, chthonic, ancient, elemental, shamanic: we hiked across it’s length, ate it’s honey and the herb that only grows there; swam in its plunging seas; Amorogos got under my skin and penetrated my dreams. An indescribable place.

Tracker is an amalgam of all the islands visited, but the southern shores of Crete stand out in my mind. There, on the sandy south-western tip of Crete, it feels like one is standing at the edge of the world; a place of origination, where anything can happen, a place frozen in time, in perpetual sun; a place to just “be”.

“Topography (from Greek τόπος topos, “place”, and γράφω graphō, “write”) is a field of planetary science comprising the study of surface shape and features of the Earth and other observable astronomical objects including planets, moons, and asteroids.” (Wikipedia)

“Simulacrum (plural: simulacra), from Latin: simulacrum which means “likeness, similarity”,^[1] was first recorded in the English language in the late 16th century, used to describe a representation, such as a statue or a painting, especially of a god.” –wikipedia

Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, analog and electronic percussion, Motor Bow, E-bow, Baglama, synthesizer.

Recorded and Mixed by Daniel Hill 2002-2007 New York City

Comments (0)