‘Four Wanderings…’ is a musical representation of composer Emmanual Mieville’s explorations in exotic locations and and takes the form of five tracks that run together to form a drifting travelogue of sorts.
Running water and birdsong is overlaid with chimes and a distant barking dog on ‘Ecasu, San Jose, Costa Rica’. The dog continues to bark as the track segues into ‘Cahuita, Costa Rica’, the sound reduced to the barest hiss and the occasional clank, howl and distant siren. Slowly but surely, an unsettling atmosphere builds as almost subliminal rumblings drone just beneath the radar. The instruments used on this track include metal and wooden sculptures, but are equally drawn from nature: the buzz of insects and sounds emanating from just beyond the horizon provide the backdrop here and across the album.
More field recordings capture bird calls and children’s voices in ‘Repulse Bay, Hong Kong’, with the erratic but definite natural rhythms providing some form of focus to the ambience. These contrast with the sound of the occasional passing motor vehicle which breaks the spell and momentarily banishes the natural sounds, highlighting Mieville’s fascination with the paradoxical relationship between man and nature.
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‘Tarapoto, Peru / Kuantan, Malaysia’ builds textures and creates a gauzy, grainy sound drawn from the field, before birdsong rises to a more prominent position in ‘Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’.
Atmospheric as it is, I might have expected, or perhaps even wanted, something more overtly evocative of the locations. Still, ‘Four Wanderings…’ is a highly personal response to these landscapes, and what’s more, it’s refreshing to hear a recording which doesn’t present a cliché interpretation of non-western culture. Perhaps by dispensing with the cliché, Mieville actually brings the listener closer to the authentic travel experience.
Emmanuel Mieville Online
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