Review Summary: Plant music: an ethereal journey on nature's frequencies.
"...a large Monstera plant we affectionately named 'Shirley' is being given a voice... By connecting sensors to the leaves, the plant's biodata is being translated into music. This is a mysterious world of plant generated music...!" - says the ambient artist, Nico Georis, in the album's preview.
For me, it was one of the most mind-blowing discoveries lately, knowing that nowadays our beloved potted friends are also able to "express themselves in music". (Big words, I know-I know.) Only a small device is needed to let any "greenie" perform: if two electrodes are placed on a vegetal surface, the device is capable to detect the small electrical biosignals generated by the plant's metabolic activites; and furthermore it converts these signals into soundwaves or MIDI.
Isn't this fascinating?
Music has no limits? Perhaps. Who could have known that one day even plants may have the opportunity to create some sounds, and not just some swish casued by a gentle breeze? How the surrounding environment influences these biosignals is still a mystery, but one thing is for sure: plants have some great talent in creating drone music (with our help, of course).
The album has a very exciting line-up: next to two human beings (namely Nico Georis and Matt Baldwin), two greenies have been also involved in this project. In the spotlight, there is Shirley, an enormous
Monstera delicosa plant, who's the main "creator" of the album; and as a special guest, a younger oak tree created some pretty sounds too on the last track.
Plants are not the most moving and zappy beings on the globe, so as anyone could predict, the album has a rather slow tempo, and flows at an easy peace. Each song is a little experiment, and as a result, the album sounds very diverse and adventurous. (Shirley did its best, okay!) In general, this release is an relaxing, spacey, and ethereal piece, with a very positive and uplifting vibe. The textures are pleasantly exciting, and whole thing feels immensely "alive"! There are also some "darker" and unpredictably odd tracks on the album as well, like
Jah Millipede or
Shirley's Bass Jam for example, but I think they're great additions: they stand as short gaps between the lush and cosmic sound-journeys, which brings some new and exciting colors to the overall "sound palette".
The only song with the most active human assistance (I mean, when they also played on instruments as well), is probably the album's pinnacle.
The Greenhouse Reel is the most moving and diverse piece on the whole album - and that one is my personal favourite too. It sounds simply magical, and I can highly recommend it for those who likes meditation or other relaxing activities.
The very unusual collaboration between humans and plants resulted a most magical and enthralling musical piece, a hypnotizing and dreamy indulgence for both the ears and the mind as well.
Shirley Shirley Shirley! is one of the most interesting albums I've ever heard, and I hope more and more albums like this will pop up in the future, featuring plants in creating something very new.
