Clever monkey (shortlisting forest soundscapes for Forest Project: Ecuador)
As we’ve mentioned there will be two or three forest interludes on the album creating track clusters, like the silence bisecting Robert Wyatt’s ‘Cuckooland’ but with more of an emphasis on continuity. Yesterday I met wildlife sound recordist John Paterson at his home studio - he was recording in Ecuador during December - to begin shortlisting soundscapes, birdsongs and so on. There’s a hilarious moment where we overhear a Howler Monkey harrassing a Capuchin Monkey, while the Capuchin breaks off branches and throws them at John. A triangle of territorialism! We’re tempted to include the sound of a Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan purely on the strength of its name.