"Sea Sounds and Bird Song from the Isles of Scilly"

This atmospheric CD captures the islands unique presence

It may seem strange that five islands only a few miles apart could each have an individual signature in sound, but rock formations, pebbles, birds and even the quality of the sand on the beach, all help convey the unique character of these magical places. The sound pictures painted by these tracks, each in its different way, forms an atmospheric tapestry of birdsong and distinctive ambient sound against the ever present but changing voice of the sea.
After much fruitless searching for a siutable cover image for the CD we are delighted that Kurt Jackson allowed us to use his painting “Samson and Long Crow from Apple Tree Bay” (© 2003 Kurt Jackson), for this purpose.

This CD, "Sea Sounds and Birdsong from the Isles of Scilly" is now on sale at the Isles of Scilly Pottery, St Mary's, and much credit must here be given to Humphrey Wakefield for his continual support for the original 5 cassette series and his vital encouragement, enthusiasm and essential suggestions for the choice of tracks and production of this CD version. Visitors to the pottery over the years have been entertained and surprised to hear the sounds surrounding them in Humphrey and Helena's showroom, which Humphrey delighted in providing.*

*Sadly, Humphrey died in 2010

For a list of birds to be heard on this CD go to: Birds List

Total playing time: 1 hour 14 minutes

Price £9.99 each plus £1.50 for postage and packing

Mail Douglas Cook to order or use the "Buy Now" button at the foot of this page

Orders are despatched within 1 working day of receiving your order
The tracks on this beguiling CD were recorded on the Isles of Scilly between 1988 and 1992, with the essential help and guidance of colleague and co-producer Rose Lambourn, herself an islander by birth. The idea of producing a publicly available version of the sounds arose during filming of the Scillonia Films production "Reflections on Scilly", which was released as a video in 1987 having been shot over the course of 1986/7 by camera-man Robin Kewell, directed by Rose and with myself as sound recordist and composer. The film was an independant production financed by Rose and her then husband Mike Codd which stands as a valuable snapshot of island life at a time when many of the old ways were starting to change. As sound recordist for the film I became fascinated by the great variety of atmospheres heard at many of the outdoor locations visited, so that when filming finished, Rose and I made a series of sound recordings which were released over the following few years as a set of 5 audio cassettes. These proved very popular in subsequent years and following many requests have now been digitally re-mastered and issued as a single 74 minute CD which includes tracks from each of the original cassettes.
Track 1 Tresco Abbey Gardens - Dawn Chorus 11:29
Track 2 St Martins Lower Town - Early ducks 10:45
Track 3 St Agnes - Above Santa Warna's Cove 07:29
Track 4 St Agnes - On the Gugh 07:03
Track 5 Samson Hill 10:59
Track 6 Bryher - Afternoon on Green Beach 10.23
Track 7 Samson - Overlooking Long Ledge 10:36
Track 8 Samson - Afternoon on South Hill 05:30