A Ladder is Not the Only Kind of Time (2023)

Benjamin Tassie (Composer)

“It was a pleasure working with Ross. His sensitivity and creativity (as well as his extraordinary technical proficiency) really elevated our project.”

— Benjamin Tassie

Synopsis

A Ladder is Not the Only Kind of Time is an album of contemporary classical music that explores ideas of place, heritage, and our changing relationship with the landscape, recorded entirely on location at sites of former watermills along the Rivelin Valley, Sheffield. Benjamin and instrument maker Sam Underwood built three water-powered mechanical instruments designed to be played by the river through turning water-wheels plucking and bowing strings, or by displacing air to play organ pipes. These water-powered instruments were accompanied variously by Rebecca Lee (bass viol), Rob Bentall (nyckelharpa), and Benjamin (rebec & lap steel guitar).

More info

The resulting album was shortlisted for an Ivor Novello Award 2024 for ‘Best Sound-art’. A film of the project was on display at Weston Park Museum from November 2023 – November 2024. The film is linked below.

My role(s):

Sound Recordist & Live Sound Engineer

Period of my involvement:

July & November 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpTBT_gw8Ww