For reasons unknown to my everyday conscious, waking self I went camping during the brutal summer we recently survived. The place was one of fond childhood memories--perhaps that was the source of the impulse. The days were scalding, but the nights were densely languid; gravid with possibility. When revisiting these recordings I'd find myself in a reverie, several minutes having unaccountably vanished while I was completely immersed in sound; I'd call it nostalgia, but that seems facile. These sounds aren't mired in the past, but a hope for the future, for continuity, I think. At any rate, I'm sure their pull will not be so strong for you as it is for me, but perhaps they'll remind you of your own lost significant sounds.

Westwood Shores, TX, August 22, 2009
3m01s 3.09MB stereo VBR mp3 (click above to download)

Got married in November, and we had an amazing honeymoon in Cancun; I enjoyed myself so much I didn't get around to much recording, but I did manage to get some good sounds during our trip to the ruins at Tulum. The following sequence was recorded using my in-ear binaural mics from the cliffs facing the Caribbean. I was actually looking toward a small inlet beach from the cliff so you can hear two different sets of waves breaking, one on the rocks below the cliffs, and one on the beach, with one in each ear. I thought that was pretty cool. The view was gorgeous--I can't properly describe it, so I'll have a photo or two up shortly.

As always, since it's binaural, headphones are highly recommended.

Binaural Tulum
2m16s 2.36MB binaural mp3 (click above to download)

Here's one more piece from my last trip to Onalaska, TX that I've finally got round to editing. It was recorded from the Patrick's Ferry boat ramp pier facing toward the parking lot and the ramps, where the best wave action was. Sunset was approaching and the only other people there were a family with a small child whose voices I captured.

I'm interested in what I record, obviously, or I wouldn't record it in the first place--but recordings from this place move me like no others I've done. I never get tired of them.

Patrick's Ferry boat ramp, November 25, 2006, 3:18pm
5m37s 7.71MB mp3 (click to download)

This is my second field recording excursion to Onalaska, TX, which was much more successful than the first. I recorded about 10x more material using 2 sets of mics & also had the good sense to take my camera. The location was the same as my previous recordings--Patrick's Ferry public boat ramp, right at the western end of the highway 190 bridge over the Trinity River. The river had risen several feet and the wave sounds were much louder; I also managed to get right under the bridge to record the sounds of traffic passing overhead.

I've finished a rough first-draft edit of a portion of the recording I made with my in-ear binaural mics; the recording begins right under the bridge and i eventually make my way toward the boat ramp itself. Since it's binaural, I highly recommend using headphones to listen to this piece. Enjoy!

Patrick's Ferry public boat ramp, Onalaska, TX, November 25, 2006, 16:55
9m45s (click to download 13.9MB mp3)

Took a trip back to my hometown, Trinity, TX, this weekend. Ostensibly it was to visit the Texas Renaissance Festival, but (as always) I was on the lookout for sounds to record. Didn't do any recording at TRF (i was actually enjoying myself too much--next time!) but took a trip out FM 356 from Trinity to Onalaska and recorded a nice few minutes of audio at one end of the 190 Trinity River bridge. I spent a good deal of my younger days in this part of the world: it's pretty much where my grandpa taught me to hunt & fish, so I have a lot of powerful memories and I feel a strong connection to this place.

This particular recording was done on the bank of the river in a public park almost right under the bridge; I tried to give equal attention to the bridge traffic, the lapping waves, and the people enjoying themselves. I find this recording intensely soothing, and wish i'd had the time to record an entire disc from this location. Next time i'll plan better, and take a camera!

Hwy 190 Bridge, Trinity River, Onalaska, TX
5m (click to download 6.73MB mp3)