david dunn chaos and the emergent mind of the pond

while the sounds above water are comfortable and familiar, those occurring under the surface are shocking. their alien variety seems unprecedented, as if controlled by a mysterious but urgent logic. the minutiae which produce these audible rasps and sputters remain mostly unseen amongst the tentacles of plants and layers of silt but each contributes to a sonic multiverse of exquisite complexity. the following sounds are a compilation of underwater recordings made in a variety of north american and african freshwater ponds. since most of the insects generating these sounds have not been studied for their sound making capacities, the specific sources remain a mystery. from the album david dunn angels and insects. photos by larry derdeyn