ELECTROSFERICS - Ether Mapping Northeast Scotland
Click on the blue markers to engage with electrosferical soundscape compositions. These compositions are mixed in a binaural format: recommended for headphone listening.
This is an Ether Map of soundscape compositions based on materials gathered from standout sites of electromagnetic sonic activity in Scotland. The compositions are created using sounds derived from the electrical signals of radio transmitters and communications masts, abandoned Cold War facilities, electricity substations, radar stations, pylons, hydrodams, thunder storms, the aurora borealis, and miscellaneous electrical infrastructure.
Click on the blue markers to listen to electromagentic soundscape compositions from uniquely atsmospheric sites of special interest.
Project Overview
Electrosferics is an ongoing series of soundscape compositions that incorporate the sounds and themes of electromagnetic activity in Scotland, using sonic materials derived from field recordings of Scotland's electrical infrastructure and electromagnetic natural phenomena.
The project uses digital technologies to portray the cultural, scientific and industrial histories and development of electricity use in Scotland and explores the methods and sources of electricity generation, from fossil fuels to hydro to the green energy solutions of today. It explores the groundbreaking discoveries of Scottish scientists, such as James Clerk Maxwell, Alexander Graham Bell and Rosemary Hutton; but it also reaches beyond the anthropocentric horizon and creates soundscape works out of electromagnetic activities in Scotland's atmosphere.
The compositions use sounds derived from two main sources: electrical infrastructure (power stations, substations, pylons, hydrodams, wind turbines, transmission masts, abandoned Cold War facilities, etc.); and natural phenomena or "sferics" (storms, aurora, solar winds). The sounds are recorded via specially adapted wide-band and VLF radio receivers connected to digital recording devices, then adapted to creative elaborations and processing techniques through various software applications.
