Desert Dictionary navigates sonic territories oscillating between language and landscape, between notation and noise. Voices responding and contributing to a complementary narrative, connecting personal memories, political considerations and psychological effects of a landscape seemingly empty and quiet. Adjacent, beneath and intertwined a modular synthesizer score based on field notes – a synthesized soundscape appearing as imaginary field recordings, at the same time resembling and unalike the place in question.

Released 16 June 2023

arbitrary16 | 2023
LP (black) + DL
Edition of 300, inside-out sleeve, printed innersleeve, incl. download code


Distributed by Morr Music Distribution - info ︎︎︎

US: Forced Exposure

FR / Bookstores: Les presses du réel

arbitrary16V

Available via:
ANOST
Soundohm (IT)
Les presses du réel (FR)
Forced Exposure (US)
Art Into Life (JP)

arbitrary.bandcamp.com


arbitrary (Shop) / DK:

info [a] arbitraryproject . com


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The Desert Dictionary appears in four iterations – a situation as part of Modern Art Projects South Africa’s collection, a radio play (commissioned by Deutschlandfunk Kultur), a book edition (published by MAPSA), and the present LP.

Recorded in South Africa over a period of three months in 2020 and 2021 - written and produced by Boris Baltschun, 2021-2022.

Mastered and cut by Kassian Troyer at D&M, Berlin

Photo & map by Boris Baltschun

Graphic design by Joe Gilmore


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