Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · 1d

"...the inherent sonic qualities of its thin plastic shell randomly knocking against the immovable mass of the church, would likely always feel like a feeble imposition, rather than an honouring of its history and quiet authority." #fieldrecording #contemplation www.anoisysilence.com/post/soundin...

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · 18d

25 mixes to soundtrack [the whole of] your Saturday night: www.anoisysilence.com/mixes (or directly through www.mixcloud.com/a_noisy_sile...)

mixes | a noisy silence

Opening a space for listening that is simultaneously familiar and enigmatic, vast and intimate. a noisy silence mixes combine progressive ambient, field recording, experimental and folk-infused tunes ...

www.anoisysilence.com

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · 22d

And this of my audio interface through a glass on my desk became a cover image: www.mixcloud.com/a_noisy_sile...

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · 22d

As always, thank you to the artists and labels featured this month…
@steepgloss.bsky.social
@vivcorringham.bsky.social
@yoichikamimura.bsky.social
@manjaristic.bsky.social
@marc-namblard.bsky.social
@andrewweathers.bsky.social

3

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · 22d

A repeated light tapping of the way someone talks (listen for more info). New mix. Best enjoyed lying down: www.mixcloud.com/a_noisy_sile...
#contemplation #fieldrecording #ambientmusic #mindfulness

1 2 4

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · 22d

#contemplativephotography One of the many things I’ll keep with me from a beautifully playful retreat with friend and dharma teacher Susanne Olbrich last weekend.

1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · 23d

A new offering, mixing sound[walk]scapes with ambient, experimental, field recording and improvisation. www.mixcloud.com/a_noi.../a-n... #mindfullistening

A Noisy Silence #25 Patter

www.mixcloud.com

1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Sep 9

Rolling with distraction. A #soundwalk through BunkFest 2025 in #wallingford. New #contemplative #fieldrecording blog here: www.anoisysilence.com/post/bunkfes... #phonography #mindfulness #soundwalking

Bunkfest Soundwalk

Working with, rather than against, the natural affordances of the mind-body and the soundscape, moves the practice of contemplative field recording in the direction of connection, flexibility and free...

www.anoisysilence.com

1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Sep 9

Where the video gives speed the #LOM #geophone adds power. Shortening a journey from Montparnasse to Saint Jean de Luz on @sncf-voyageurs.bsky.social #TGV

1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Aug 1

Taking a break from socials for a few weeks. I'll leave you with the sound of a metal groyne sounded by the waves and recorded by draping two hydrophones over it. Take care folks...

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Jul 22

Creative live recording (singing into a font is a first!) for Sarah Lambert-Gates' work responding to #Cookham Abbey. Lovely to capture archeologist Lucy-Anne Taylor playing her replica bone flute from the site and work alongside Olga Dikajee. More info here: www.cookhamabbey.org.uk/event/river-...

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Jul 16

Great buzz in the the studio this morning, recording voiceovers for Nature Nurture with Chris Mitchell, Emma, Fayez, Fern and Toby of Rabble Theatre. All sorts of wild animals were brought to life, including 'street' Hedgehogs, cockney Robins and a rather softly spoken Goldcrest.

1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Jul 15

Enjoyed the cool and shade of the woodlands at The Cowsey in Reading for our #wellbeing #soundwalk last Friday. A grounding meditation followed by a soundwalk using #fieldrecording to help us focus on the #soundscape and our presence in it. www.anoisysilence.com/soundwalks

2

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Jul 1

Always a pleasure to work with Nature Nurture CIC this time at Reading Waterfest. The tent offered some very welcome shade for passersby who got stuck in to painting watery wildlife, while I invited visitors to test-out our #WebOfLifeQuest game.

1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Jul 1

A scorchingly hot, but thoroughly enjoyable visit to the little-known Kennet Island Wildlife Conservation Area in Reading and the [in]famous 'Shitty Ditch' with Elis Bentley and local history-buff David Turner.

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · May 31

Fascinating, enveloping, challenging performances last night, with sound being coaxed from objects and machines with real sensitivity to the space and their new partners-in-sound for the evening. #soundart

1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · May 30

Sunlight exposes layers of watercolour that add depth to the shallows. The first silent washes of fish and dragonfly lay down a base coat on which blue tit, blackcap and foliage perch.

1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · May 8

Thanks for clarifying. I must get me some buckeye - I'm not sure I do too sweet!

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · May 7

Thanks for your comment and share. Well, that's a learning for me today - 'buckeyes' from the horse-chestnut tree or does this have a different common name for you? Charlie and Lola - a favourite with our three when they were younger as well.

2 1

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · May 6

"There can grow a confidence in navigating our relationships silently... enjoying the depth of connection that can come when we do not reduce the world to words." New blog post: www.anoisysilence.com/post/winterb... #fieldrecording #contemplation #soundwalk #wallingforduk #mindfulness

1 1 4

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Apr 30

Wood Street, Wallingford, UK

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Apr 10

"I left the dustpan and handbrush where I had found it, recorded a further moment or two of stillness, before halting the recording to sit and type these rememberings into my phone..." www.anoisysilence.com/post/sweepin... #fieldrecording #contemplation #sweeping #mindfulness

1 2

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Apr 8

"Although the church stands battered, bruised and mildly neglected, its otherness and seeming lack of purpose spoke to me of uncommon, underrepresented values - the usefulness of the useless." Getting back-to-the-broom again! www.anoisysilence.com/post/sweepin...

Sweeping St Mary's

I placed the portable recorder on the communion rail, picked up the soft-bristled broom and began sweeping the chancel floor.

www.anoisysilence.com

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Mar 25

'scatter' make of that what you will. Listen here: www.mixcloud.com/a_noisy_sile... #contemplation #fieldrecording #ambientmusic #mindfulness

3

Richard Bentley @anoisysilence.bsky.social · Mar 24

29 minutes and 59 seconds of sensitively crafted ambient-field-recording-experimental-folkiness. Care-full listening on headphones recommended: www.mixcloud.com/a_noisy_sile... #contemplation #fieldrecording #mindfulness #ambient

4