Tristan Louth-Robins — The Path Described

3 Leaves presents The Path Described, a 3 track CD by South Australian sound artist Tristan Louth-Robins. Over the years I’ve heard a number of field recording albums documenting the natural word. Most recordings are expertly captured, but it’s a genre many find easy to discount. There is certainly no lack of recordings documenting the sounds of crickets, waterfalls, birds, wildlife, traffic, wind, etc. However, if the only thing that draws me to a recording is the pure sonic experience, then I might find dismay in “another” field recording disc to review. However, what grabs me in are the stories that led the artist to record the sounds. In that sense these albums are as much about personal biography and the emotional imprint the artist leaves on the final product. The Path Described embodies that ideal of field recordings being not only a document, but a personal statement of the artist’s life.

The Path Described is Louth-Robins’ reconnection to the world where he grew up. His formative years were found in Normanville, a small coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula in Southern Australia. Many of Louth-Robin’s childhood memories were imprinted with the sights and sounds of his natural environment. This album, an ode to his childhood surroundings, compiles field recordings of the peninsula’s coastlines and other surrounding natural areas.

Comprised of 3 compositions, it’s hard to really elaborate on each piece in isolation, as they sounds and feel like one continuous track. As to be expected, we hear the sounds of birds chirping and cawing, crashing waves, and water flowing. We hear the artist traversing earth and liquid, the aural sounds of his magical environment, and the sounds of a forest or field teaming with the sounds of buzzing insects. It’s all excellently captured and a great documentation of the natural world he is occupying.

In conclusion, The Path Described is truly a splendid aural retelling of childhood memories through adult eyes.