A. 海口 Haikou is a little harbour in Pingtung County, at the very South of Taiwan, blown by the strong winds coming down from the mountains during the Winter. While its fishing industry strongly decreased, some failed attempts for tourism development in the previous decade only let a gigantic empty hotel in the middle of the village, already split in two by the regional road.
Based on field recordings realised in December 2018, this piece is constructed with sounds from under the surface produced by moving water, seaweeds, crustaceans, fishes and boats, and from solid vibrations in temporary metal structures and sea beacons being agitated by the gale.
B. 澎湖 Penghu Archipelago is located in the Taiwan Strait and comprises 90 volcanic islands and islets. In Winter time, they are also swept by powerful winds, coming from the North East. This piece is composed with sounds collected during Lunar New Year in 2008, in the ruins of the corals houses and in between the invasive trees Leucaena leucocephala. The Winter of the year 2008 saw a dramatical climate event, a cold seawater current originated from the melting snows of China causing an ecological disaster, killing large parts of the coral communities.
More informations about sound projects in Penghu :
www.tumblr.com/penghusound
released March 7, 2024