Place Language is an international non-profit compilation album project inspired by the themes found in Robert Macfarlane’s widely-acclaimed book ‘Landmarks’. In particular it focuses on the book’s extensive topographic glossaries, the “word-hoard” of depictive landscape terms gathered from 30 different languages, dialects and sub-dialects around Britain & Ireland and divided into sections by type of terrain (Flatlands, Uplands, Waterlands, Coastlands, Underlands, Northlands, Edgelands, Earthlands and Woodlands). Relying on these topograms, or “tiny place poems”, as creative prompts, Place Language seeks to both inspire a renewed interest in our surroundings and reinvigorate our appreciation for the audible textures & patterns that characterize a place in keeping with the book’s stated desire to “re-wild” our vocabulary. 

For my track on this compilation, I selected the Landmarks topogram ‘Saltings’, meaning “salt marshes, usually on the seaward side of sea walls” (Essex, Kent). I recorded an impression of this term using processed acoustic and electronic instruments and field recordings of one of my favourite places which I’ve visiting repeatedly since childhood, Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex.

Released by UK-based boutique label Fluid Audio with stunning visuals by American contemporary artist Gregory Euclide and a thought-provoking liner-note essay written by Robert Macfarlane himself. All proceeds from sales of Place Language will be donated to War Child, a charity organization that provides relief to children in areas of war and conflict; children without a place of their own.

Credits

Audio mastered by Ian Hawgood
Artwork by Gregory Euclide
Liner notes by Robert Macfarlane
Design by Daniel Crossley
Book layout by Ian Hazeldine