Bedouin radio (pt. 1 - 5)

Jul 14, 01:55 PM

 "Using snippets of the vocal samples, recordings from my phone of me playing a Taylor guitar (tuned to drop D), some improvised recordings of Ciat Lonbarde synths (Esoterica Chainlock PCB “Made by Tripping on Wires” Sheffield Uk), I created circa 90 samples I could pitch down and play live. 

"Next I built layers of sounds inside a sampler that would give the impression of radio waves, desert vistas and sounds from a transistor radio drifting in and out of range with voices and further sample snips creating more layers. Finally I reduced content down to 5 distinct pieces that became the framework for the song. 

"I really wanted to capture the vastness, beauty and isolation of some of the places these people live in and interact with. Reversed guitar samples shimmer and synths try and imitate wind as it blows around sand or grains of musical data. 

"The latter part of the song sounds at times like a rattle snake battling the elements. In total, Bedouin Radio takes the listener on a 15 minute journey forwards and backwards in time as song and voice act as anchors in the desert sea…"

Bedouins in South Sinai reimagined by Andy Billington.

Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration. 

For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration