About this Event
TRANSMISSION I: Ambisonic Listening Party
Artist Jamie House presents a unique ambisonic listening party at CAST. The event is part of his ongoing collaboration with Natural England at Goonhilly Downs SSSI. Audiences are invited to experience a 10-speaker soundscape revealing the hidden sonic worlds of this extraordinary Cornish landscape.
About the Work
Jamie House has developed an evolving archive of field recordings across Goonhilly Downs, capturing surface atmospheres and subterranean textures. Using ambisonic microphones alongside contact mics, hydrophones, and geophones, he records dew-soaked sphagnum, wind-shivered gorse, freshwater pools, and the metallic tremor of historic satellite dishes. These natural sounds are interwoven with electromagnetic fields, seismic vibrations, VLF radio, and shortwave transmissions, blending heathland life with planetary and cosmic signals.
Set against the 2025 solar maximum, the recordings capture atmospheric whistlers, ionospheric crackles, and geomagnetic shifts. Audiences are invited to slow listening, attuning to the barely perceptible sounds of more-than-human voices and Red Data Book species. This collaborative experience explores sounds beyond human perception, co-learning with the unique environment of Goonhilly Downs amidst climate and social challenges.
The Listening Experience
The installation unfolds in three movements:
1. Ephemeral Pools (20 mins): Underwater plant resonances and nocturnal insects
2. Transitions (20 mins): Dusk-to-dawn soundscapes with nightjars, bats, and infrasonic insects
3. Barrier Thresholds (20 mins): Night recordings near the Earth Station, merging human-made and geophysical signals
Audiences are invited to reflect on human and non-human interconnections, from seasonal regeneration to planetary and cosmic scales.
About the Artist
Jamie House is a UK-based author and sound recordist transforming natural and technological soundscapes into immersive experiences. Mentored by Chris Watson and Lawrence English, he works across landscapes including Goonhilly Downs SSSI and Europe’s oldest oak forests at Blenheim Palace, blending ecological science with artistic experimentation.
His work has been featured at the Barbican Centre London, in New Scientist and The Guardian, and at international symposia and galleries. Jamie engages communities through collaborative listening, exploring biodiversity, climate change, and acoustic ecology. Recent projects include a soundscape album on Presque Tout Records (France) and exhibitions at PS1 Gallery, FENSTER KARST Gallery, and international forums including IAPT Cyprus and the Photographers’ Gallery London.
Agenda
🕑: 05:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Intro Talk (15 minutes)
Intro Talk
Info:
Artist Jamie House introduces his practice, exploring field recording, sound ecology, and the planetary-scale landscape of Goonhilly Downs. He will also discuss his collaboration with Natural England and the technologies he uses to reveal hidden environments, including infra- and ultrasonic microphones and VLF receivers. A small selection of Jamie’s sound tools and his debut novel will be on display.
Immersive Soundscape (60 minutes)
A one-hour ambisonic listening experience through a 10-speaker system, presenting a deeply detailed sonic portrait of Goonhilly Downs SSSI.
Important Listening Note
This is a deep listening experience.
The space will be low-lit, and for full immersion we ask that there is:
No talking
No phone use
Minimal movement during the soundscape
This helps maintain a shared, focused atmosphere for all listeners.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Cornubian Arts & Science Trust (CAST), 3 Penrose Road, Helston, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
