One never steps into the same river twice, and the Loire – a few miles from Nantes, France – is no exception. The saying refers to the fact that a river is always in flux, but also refers to a deeper truth: that experiences can never be relived. If one person’s experience cannot be repeated, it’s more true that the same experience cannot be replicated by two. The Loire River may mean one thing to Hervé Moire, but translating that meaning to others requires imagination and hard work.
This is where Hervé Moire’s computer comes in handy. If Mirage de Loire were simply a field recording, it would likely sound like any other river, with birds, marsh buzzes and the sound of lapping water. But filtering and light musical adornment provide shape and depth, better reflecting one’s reaction to the river than the sounds of the actual river. What is any human impression, if not a mirage?
Soft drones and bells contribute context, weaving in and out of the recording and occasionally disappearing altogether. Peripheral sounds are amplified; even the water seems to hide from time to time, happy to remain unobtrusive. A shift in the tenth minute sounds like gourds and fire. In the final minutes, the natural sounds are joined by processed ambience, fittingly peaceful and calm.
Mirage de Loire is the second sterling river recording of the year, following Craig Vear’s ESK. We’re sure it won’t be the last. The inability to step into the same river twice turns out to be a blessing: fresh surprises, like the curves of a river, are just around the corner. (Richard Allen)
a closer listen 