French composer Leo Magnien has recently released Clarières, a series of 14 tracks on Ryoanji Records. The label was formed in 2021 and is supported by Arts Council England. As a result of this funding, Clarières represents the second commission in a series of calls for electroacoustic works by Ryoanji Records. Magnien's work was launched in Norwich, where the label is based.
The core of Clarières' sonic landscape stems from Magnien's practice of listening and recording—a dual creative role. Magnien's work, overall, suggests a need to frame, or capture at the micro level, a sense of movement among his sonic fragments. Magnien's total practice begins with his use of recordings that are between 10 and 20 minutes in duration, capturing what the composer describes as a “path for listening,” inclusive of any sound events found. Another aspect of Magnien's recording practice is his aim to highlight the “barely perceptible.”...