302 Soundscenes of rolling thunder over the Pyrenees (possibly sleep safe)

Cicadas seem to go quiet when the rain sets in. They probably need to keep themselves dry to be able to make their sound. In this landscape recording we made in early August nearly all of the cicadas have stopped by about ten minutes. Then it's just the rain, and the rolling thunder, and the occasional fleeting calls of birds. And, if you are able to hear it, the watery flowings of the River Muga.

The day started hot and humid. Nothing but blue skies above the high mountain peaks that surround this remote area. But as the afternoon progressed the skies became grey. Then greyer. Then began to grumble with distant thunder. The thunder is what made us go out with the Lento box despite the threat of heavy rain.

With the rain starting to come down properly we walked along the narrow streets of Sant Llorenc, leaving the village walls. We found a tree growing at the foot of the ancient allotments along a rough grassy path next to the River Muga. We tied the Lento box to the tree and angled it. The river is flowing from right to left of scene, about seven or so strides in front. Beyond the landscape rises steeply. Up through dense trees and woodland, and up to a horizon that seems unfeasibly high, marked with dramatic mountain peaks.

The Lento box recorded alone. Captured a scene of almost constant rolling thunder and sparkling Pyrenees rain. The sky is free of human made noise, and with only one road connecting the village this area has a sound environment where the natural world is sometimes the only thing that can be heard.

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