Clue Four
Toby, Kent, UK asked:
‘Are you really playing a live gig at the Barbican without knowing how on earth it is going to sound or be like and sharing the tape on stage?! That’s lunacy! What if we sit in silence for an hour??’
Erland answered:
‘Yes. In a bold leap of faith marking 1 year since I planted the album, the Barbican, myself and some very special guests are doing a special concert, a one-off performance. It will be a night of poetry, discovery, adventure, deep listening and perhaps just a little bit of magic. To sit in silence together, what a communal experience that in itself could be? This work is a mediation on value and patience, a collaboration with time and the natural world. I hope to see you there.’
Fellini, London, UK asked:
‘I ate it , very sorry .. tasted tapey , sorry , by the way when we eating again?’
Erland answered:
‘Good luck. I’m now curious how stomach acid will affect it, creating additional artefacts of tape.. ’
Megan, Unknown, UK asked:
‘I love this idea, very inspired and exciting. How are you offering the map to find? I would love to have the information in case the journey takes me. Thank you for your beautiful music’
Erland answered:
‘Thank you. The map is an abstract one. It just requires some lateral thinking over a puzzle and with that a look at any map of Orkney. This puzzle is split into 6 sections or polaroid images, half of which are now released. A new section is set free every equinox or solstice over the years. I think that should be just enough to get you going. Many have been nowhere near but a few have come close to finding it.’
Harry, Glasgow, UK asked:
‘Will the record be affected by peat?’
Erland answered:
‘Perhaps a myth but I understand peat has a remarkable, mummifying effect on decomposition. It may preserve the audio perfectly well or perhaps the music will get better with age, like whiskey? ’
Chihiro, Japan asked:
‘... silence, loneliness and the deep marvellous rhythms of sea and land, darkness and light.
Inspired by those words in your triptych you spoke of the air, water and land. Tell me about Orkney's fire.’
Erland answered:
‘Those essential words came from George Mackay Brown and they'd become a map for me to create that trilogy of albums. Perhaps I could recommend a new collection of his short stories called Simple Fire. They draw from ancient folklore to modern life and no doubt hold the best answer to your question.’