Music for the Sea<\/strong> imprint with its premiere release.<\/p>\n\u201cTo reconnect with the Ocean is to reconnect with ourselves,\u201d states Francavilla, who first introduced the concept of\u00a0re-oceaning <\/i>in a TED Talk and performance. She connects the ocean with the \u201csoundscape of the womb,\u201d as emphasized by the cover art. \u00a0The sounds of marine life, including hydrophone recordings of endangered seagrass, are woven throughout the set. As Ibiza is known as a party haven, it\u2019s refreshing to see the region\u2019s responsible side; proceeds benefit marine conservation and acoustic research.<\/p>\n
The title track is presented in two versions, the original and a Rafael Anton Irisarri remix. \u00a0At once the listener is serenaded by the lull of the waves, along with whales and electro-acoustics. \u00a0A quiet melody develops, an ode to the sea and our connection to it. \u00a0The artist sings softly and wordlessly. A pulse develops like a heartbeat, while the music rises to a peak; then the pulse sinks into the mix to allow the ocean\u2019s residents to have their say. \u00a0Irisarri\u2019s rework is almost exactly twice the length, providing more space to the individual components; the opening minute is pure hydrophone. \u00a0The rework emphasizing the feeling of drifting or floating timelessly, no shore or stirrups in sight. \u00a0The peak this time is subtle, the recession more gentle, like a tide; and leaving no doubt, in this version the closing pulse is <\/em>a heartbeat.<\/p>\nThis leads seamlessly to the 18-minute \u201cOcean Womb,\u201d which ebbs and flows with the rhythms of the sea. \u00a0In this extended piece (which we hope to experience on vinyl), the field recordings are as prominent as the music. \u00a0In the fourth minute, strings surface in the synthetic soundscape; have they been there all along? \u00a0To hear the cellos is to wonder how much we\u2019ve missed in other places: for example, the precious biodiversity that keeps oceans healthy and allows ecosystems to flourish. \u201cOcean Womb\u201d is a miasma of accumulated sound, imitating the soundscape of the womb, where bubbles, gurgles and flow communicate comfort and safety. \u00a0As the chimes enter, one thinks of a nursery, an expectant parent; in the eighth minute, the crackle of seaweed is vaguely reminiscent of a bicycle wheel. \u00a0The sea holds many wonders; one wishes to protect it like a child in the womb so that child will one day be able to experience them to the same extent as prior generations.<\/p>\n
While everything about\u00a0re-oceaning\u00a0<\/em>sounds hopeful and personal, it is also a cry of crisis and a call to societal action. \u00a0Francavilla hopes that by helping listeners to recall where they came from \u2013 the original womb of the sea \u2013 she might spark efforts to protect and preserve. \u00a0The music is lovely, but change would be lovelier still. \u00a0(Richard Allen)<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/a>This past Sunday was World Ocean Day. \u00a0To honor the occasion, musical artist and activist Coco Francavilla <\/strong>launched the new Music for the Sea<\/strong> imprint with its premiere release.<\/p>\n