“Separate Elements” is a snapshot of Charlie Hooker’s 1993 site-specific sound installation of the same name. Utilizing emergent glass sphere recording technology, the artist captured the varying amount of sunlight throughout a summer’s day and transcribed it into a musical score. This generative music score was then broadcast from buoys with wind powered sails anchored in an arc in St Andrews Bay, Scotland, and listeners were encouraged to walk along the rocks on the bay at low tide to experience the music being blown around by the wind as the buoy’s sails reflected the ambient sunlight.

The musical result is a gorgeous suite implementing the elements (the wind, the sun, the rocky shore-line and the sea) alongside minimal patterns and chord swells of synthesis - accompanying the tide, pulsing along with the waves crashing along the shoreline, the notes distorting through the wind. A true natural orchestra, “Separate Elements” combine into one incredible minimalist environmental music movement.

The piece was later destroyed by a storm, but gratefully the installation was captured both as a recording of the original music & field recording of the installation - presented here alongside the artist as an exact reproduction of 1993 release from the installation. Side A presents the musical works alone, while Side B captures the essence of the installation as a field recorded version of these works. We are grateful to offer copies of this new edition alongside the artist and Manchester-based shop All Night Flight. Purchase includes mp3 digital download sent to email!