A Closer Listen
Biodukt, one of our favorite field recording albums of all time, was released in March of 2020, the week the whole world shut down. The timing could not have been more fortuitous; the album, which tracked the sounds of Italian and Slovenian forests from sunrise to sunset, was a reminder of all that was still good in the world and had not yet been taken away.
Nokturno arrives at a different time, in the midst of a different brand of crisis, a disappointment in human society and a disenchantment with its governments. Again, Martina Testen and Simon Šerc turn to the animal kingdom for wisdom, “inviting reflection on the inner lives of animals – creatures that think, feel, and navigate their world with subtle intelligence.”
Nokturno takes off where Biodukt ends, completing the circle of a day: the culmination of a ten-year project. Here one will encounter the creatures of the night, who take turns in the sonic realm, ruling different times of the darkness, communicating with each other in strange and mysterious ways, demonstrating great acuity, cooperation and listening skills: tools all too rare in the human world. The lushness of these recordings is as compelling as that of Biodukt, and the mastering is sublime. With a good sound system, one can close one’s eyes and be immersed in the ecosystem.
The birds are still active at sunset, many more birds than are present in the suburban yard. One remembers that many species and ecosystems are endangered, and immediately feels their worth. Cries of various pitches and hues arrive from all around; a woodpecker continues to work as the sun sets, searching for grubs. Remarkably, one of the birds sounds like a cat (2:28), but it is not a cat; we hope that the other birds know! Without a seam, the attention drifts to the twilight frogs, who seem to be auditioning for a woodwind chorus; their musical nature is astounding. A splash makes one wonder if one of the frogs has given up on the song and decided to take a dip. As the sonic field grows more crowded, it begins to sound electronic, or to be more accurate, what we know as electronic music begins to sound like frogs.
As the insects become active, one starts to think of how happy the frogs will be; but at the same time, one hears sounds reminiscent of a foghorn, typewriter and lawnmower, although one also knows these are not present. Instead, one marvels at the depth of the insectoid drone. And then massive huffs, snorts and breaths, perhaps a stag; but the stag is not alone, for another creature is creating a trumpet-like sound. It’s no surprise that this amalgamation has been called The Great Animal Orchestra.
As midnight approaches, the forest grows quieter; is this perhaps because the wolves have come? Just after midnight, the sky begins to rumble, a transformative moment that arrives with a shock: the sudden appearance of church chimes, followed by lightning. Has the Almighty been disturbed? As the rain descends, one cannot help but think of the Great Flood, the mind prepped by the bells. Most of the creatures fall quiet in awe or fear or self-protection. The heavens do seem angry; but the terror will pass; the late droplets provide nourishment to those who forage in the dark.
Heavy hooves can be heard along with the sound of crunching as the stags feed. Those who have awakened to discover their flowers gone may be interested in knowing when this event is likely to have occurred. By now, many creatures have gone to bed. One can still hear crickets and beetles, but no birds. As the dawn approaches, this will change; one by one, the bird species return to the orchestra, beginning with the cuckoo, which some might say sounds like a cuckoo clock before recognizing their mistake. Soon the dawn chorus will be at full throat; a new day has begun.
In order to hear such sounds in nature, one must travel to the forest. But once, such sounds were everywhere. The album is an invitation to commune with nature, but it is also a plea to preserve natural habitats. Otherwise, one day the word nokturno will have an entirely different meaning. (Richard Allen)
Fri Sep 19 00:01:20 GMT 2025