FLORA YIN-WONG ANNOUNCES NEW LONG PLAYER ‘THE SACRIFICE’

A remote cabin near Machynlleth in the ancient valleys of North Wales was the setting for the creation of the work, which saw DJ, producer, and journalist Yin-Wong take refuge there during the process of creating it. From here, she began collecting the field recordings that would eventually form the basis of the new four-track album she would release later this year. Folklore served as inspiration. ‘The Sacrifice’ aspires to provide a sonic escape from the bizarre times in which society finds itself at the present time. Acoustic Ecology: The Relationship Between Listener and Environment was commissioned by First Light Records as part of their Unbuilt Sound series, which is a project that explores the relationship between listener and environment through music. Pioneering electronic artists from around the world will immerse themselves in remote rural locations throughout the project’s duration and create new sound works inspired by their experiences, which will then be released on limited edition vinyl by the label.

Machynlleth, is home to The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), which serves as a research and development facility for practical solutions for a carbon-free future. The CAT is located within the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere and is open to the public. The uncanny and untouched natural surroundings of the area – punctuated by the ruins of abandoned industrial mines – embody a parallel and possible present that serves as a brief respite from the climate crisis that our modern societies are facing. The following is Flora’s description of The Sacrifice: “Taking its name from a modern adaptation of The Mabinogion, the first collection of mythic Welsh stories, The Sacrifice is an isolated reflection on the earthen landscape of weaving valleys and still lakes.” This work is in part influenced by the mytho-historical figures who appear in the film – architects of fate and synthetic beings who embark on shamanic journeys of redemption.”

Field recordings distorted by time and space are interspersed with waves of synthesizer work and whispered vocals on the album’s debut. A delicate familiarity alternates with dreamlike dissonance in an attempt to evoke a folkloric sense of timeless place that transcends time, with this combination of composed sound and field recordings establishing a dialogue between Yin-Wong and her environment. The Sacrifice is available on CD and digital download.