Douglas Quin “Fathom” LP TAIGA records

By Loaf Nest

The Idea

Douglas Quin’s Fathom brings together four extended underwater soundscapes – two each from the Arctic and Antarctic. The recordings have been gathered over a period of 15 years, capturing an extraordinary palette of sonic voices, events, spaces, and textures. To the human ear, these soundscapes are haunting and otherworldly; yet they are very much of this world – out of earreach. The tracks are minimally edited and are his first field recordings to be archived in vinyl. In translating the recordings into a visual language an scientific and archival approach was taken that lends itself to early documentation of natural history. All illustrations and essay were created while listening to the recordings while only knowing the locations from which the sounds were documented.

Delivery of Work

Included with the release is a sealed envelope containing an insert with specific locations, species, and other elements heard, giving listeners the option to absorb sound with or without association. The envelope is printed with liner notes and comments from Dutch journalist and music critic Rene van Peer. Mastered by James Plotkin, cut direct to metal and pressed on 200 gram virgin-vinyl, Fathom comes packaged in custom letterpressed materials and is presented as a limited edition of 1000.

The Results

Vinyl being a medium that requires the listener to physically engage with its packaging and contents with every listen, this document combines the sensory of tactile and visual for sounds that are alien.

Credits

 

Event Sponsors

Additional generous support provided by Lagunitas Brewing Comapny and The Fraternal Order of Eagles #34