This is a collection of incredibly lush and varied soundscapes I recorded in Borneo in 2019. The locations covered include lowland and hillside rainforest, far away from populated areas, roads or plantations. Although these pristine areas are getting smaller and smaller every year, I was lucky enough to access large swathes of conserved rainforest, both primary and secondary.
These rainforests are nothing short of breathtaking. Starting before dawn, gibbons call from the canopy, their melodious wails echoing across valleys and hills. Bird species like Shamas, Barbets, Pittas, Hornbills and a myriad others soon join in, creating an incredibly diverse and lively soundscape.
In late afternoon, all of this changes once insects start to take over. The beautifully alien sounding Empress cicada fills the valleys with its electronic call around 6pm. As night slowly sets in, frogs and night birds join the insects for an otherworldly but equally fascinating ambience.
These recordings can be listened to hundreds or thousands of times while still sounding fresh and immersive. The Borneo rainforest does not reveal itself easily. Going beyond the surface of the sound field takes time, time for your ears and mind to slow down and start noticing detail. Sit back, relax, and allow your mind to recharge with beauty and calm.
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