Madeleine Cocolas - Northern Storm (2022)

‘Northern Storm’ is constructed from heavily processed field recordings of a walk I took by the lakes near where work. I took these recordings and then I ripped them apart. To me, this piece is represents the idea of taking deep breathes in the face of a storm and trying to stay grounded. It is a build up and release of tension, ultimately as a form of catharsis.

The tracks ‘Machine Talk’ and ‘The Sound Between’ celebrate the beauty and musicality of machine sounds. They are predominantly made from recordings I made of machines that I was encountering in my day to day life. When I listened carefully I realized that sounds of trucks reversing, industrial air conditioners, building sites and cranes all had an innate musicality that I was drawn to and wanted to explore further. When I manipulated some of the recordings by slowing them down, decreasing some frequencies and increasing others, I could hear words, melodies and rhythms emerging. It is these elements that form the basis of “Machine Talk” and “The Sound Between”.