Phenomenon by Mike Dickson

I didn't know when the sound started, but it became louder throughout the day. A low grade humming, almost mechanical but not in any obviously recognisable way. I asked other people if they could hear it too. They all looked puzzled and shrugged. Some people moved away from me as though I was cursed.

On the walk home I noticed it lying inside the air, surrounding all of us around. I didn't know where to look. At first I thought it was tinnitus or something like that, but it was definitely coming from somewhere else, somewhere outside me. The tone changed as I turned my head. There was a source but it was not near me. And yet it got progressively louder.

It went on for days and days. The doctor told me there was nothing wrong with me in any physical sense, so assumed it was something inside my head. He suggested listening to white noise on headphones. I tried that and it did diminish it, but that was only because I had headphones on. It was definitely coming from outside, yet no one else could her it.

I even checked it on my guitar. It was sounding at E3 or E2 - it was hard to tell which. Sometimes it sounded like feedback, pure and round. Other times it sounded much more grindy and mechanical.

Then last Tuesday it changed. And it became a voice. A clear blue voice, haloed as though far away but right next to me.

And this is what it said:

Independent musician located in Scotland, producing cinematic/ambient/electronic works as and when he feels like it, for little to no fee.
Early works centred very much on the Mellotron but the palette is now much more varied.
Releases made periodically and usually frequently throughout the year. If you're listening to my stuff then I'd love to hear from you.

mikedickson.org.uk
music.apple.com
deezer.com
bsky.app
music.amazon.co.uk