Eye To The Ear vinyl

Cosmo Sheldrake's Eye to the Ear is a challenging album to categorise, with the versatile talents of this English singer, producer, composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist turning to a range of styles, from classical choral works ('The Feet are the Link') to electronic compositions created from birdsong, exemplified by 'Shiny Is the View.' It even ventures into the utterly unique with 'The Snapping of Shrimp,' a track incorporating the sounds of a regenerating coral reef. This is Sheldrake's second full-length album, arriving six years after The Much Much How How and I. Both albums explore themes of symbiosis and environmentalism, prominently featuring horn ensembles. However, Eye to the Ear leans more towards slow, contemplative tracks and a diverse soundscape. 'Breathe Round Corners' stands out as a particularly poignant song about environmental degradation, accompanied by the calls of endangered birds. The most riveting aspect of Sheldrake's music is his use of unusual samples, such as sounds from Sri Lankan frogs, a humpback whale, snapping shrimp, blacksmiths, and even 15 golf balls bouncing on a wooden floor. His environmental themes are influenced by scientific expeditions with his biologist brother, Merlin, to remote locations. The track 'Lichens' includes samples from a site in Ecuador where a new species of psychedelic mushroom was discovered. Standout tracks include 'Does the Swallow Dream of Flying,' 'Marvelous Clouds,' and 'Breathe Round Corners.' Eye to the Ear is an ideal listen for those seeking music beyond the typical human-centric narrative.