Dillon Anthony’s latest work combines Norse mythology with collected field recordings.
Matt Carter
Dillon Anthony is a creative force. One minute he could be on stage playing tightly packed clubs as a member of Kill Chicago and the next, happily lost in the woods with nothing but his camera to keep him company. That’s why his latest release, a sound collage of collected field recordings from a recent trip to Norway, seems precisely on point.
“It’s a style of things I don’t usually mess around with,” admits the Fredericton based artist who appears hellbent on documenting his adventures both at home and abroad.
As a trained audio engineer, Anthony is no stranger to capturing sound. In addition to recording several local artists, he released an EP of his own material in 2015 that included over 30 guest performances with musicians from home and across the country.
Earlier this year he left the comfort of the recording studio behind to spend the better part of a month in the tiny village of Akkarfjord, Norway on an artist residency documenting both the county’s scenic and awe-inspiring landscapes as well as the region’s Indigenous populations.
Inspired by his experience and the region’s folklore, Anthony complied many of his collected field recordings to make the track, Jörmungandr.
He describes the piece by saying how it involves “everything from crashing ocean waves, wind sounds, and percussion on fishing equipment and oil drums. This piece represents the battle of man against beast, and draws a parallel to the looming presence of another such beast off the coast; the oil platform, Goliat.”
Over the past few months he has shared several photos from his Norwegian adventure (You can see some of those images and others here). But Jörmungandr represents the first and possibly the only sounds he’s plans on sharing from that trip. At least for now.
“A sound recording was always part of the plan but I haven’t really released any,” said Anthony. “This is the only piece that I finished from up there. I have other samples, but I think it’s all I’ll release from that trip.
“I was also able to record some of the Sami people doing their traditional joiking (similar to throat singing) but I wouldn’t want to release it without their consent.”
Later this summer Anthony will again pack his gear for a similar adventure. He’s headed to the Yukon in July.
I’m already looking forward to seeing and hearing what he brings back this time.
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