The majority of these recordings, aside from the concluding piece, serve as minor aural landmarks to the small town, or rather village, as it is still called, of Hiram, Ohio. With its topography varying as much as its weather patterns; the village and its outlying landscape consisting of checkered farmland, rivers, and dense forest areas oozes with sonic opportunity. Winged creatures, both insect and avian, seem to thrive here; they often culminate in huge displays (or perhaps protests) following one of the aforementioned weather shifts. The opening recording is of such a shift, as Spring refused to do so, and Winter mercilessly harassed animals of all sorts. And similarly, "Bog", recorded a mere thirteen days later, documents a large group of various insects, frogs and birds all gathered around to be heard following a sudden and very violent thunderstorm. Yet, there are tranquil moments as well, as the chickens will tell you. The closing recording is not in Hiram, but Cortland, some 30 minutes East, where boats and geese travel on a large man-made lake, and where I sat on a small rock jetty recording them all. (matthew mullane)