Recreating a Soundscape

Transfer of Energy is an attempt to capture the sonic and emotional atmosphere of a striking stretch of coastline on the northwest of England — Formby Beach.

The beach is a vast, expansive space. It’s impressive in itself, but it also has unusual features: several visible shipwrecks — some even accessible at low tide, which is particularly spooky as they emerge slowly as the tide goes out— the skyline of the Merseyside docks to the south, and, out to sea, an oil platform, the Isle of Man, and Ireland, all visible on a clear day.

The soundscape is equally distinctive — dominated by the roar of the sea but also influenced by local features: passing ships, weird birds, weird foghorns, voices carried on the wind. I spent time exploring the beach, and as I focused in on the layers of sound, everything began to feel abstract. I started to hear other sounds within the noise — melodies, voices, signals, repeating patterns.

The tools I used making this album

This became the idea behind the album: to recreate that environment — a background of noise from which melodies and phrases emerge and then recede. It was important for me that the piece felt impressionistic rather than realistic. So instead of using field recordings of the sea, I used noise generators to re-create what I thought I heard. Much of the music was also processed through a Koma Field Kit, adding another layer of texture and abstraction.

The album is meditative, immersive, and quietly mesmerising. The melodies are subtle, but they are there — becoming more present with each listen.