The Spindlesongs installation

Spindlesongs is a sound installation which uses almost exclusively recordings gathered at Quarry Bank Mill alongside archive recordings from the North West Sound Archive. These sounds have been edited, manipulated and layered using a computer to create sonic journeys through the sounds and stories of the cotton industry in the North West of England. In this particular installation, surround sound, here 8-channel sound, is used to simulate spatial movement, referencing the motions of the machines found in the Mill. The voices heard in the work are taken from interviews with Quarry Bank Mill staff and a number of recordings of the recollections of Mill workers, archived at the North West Sound Archive, which describe first-hand experiences of the cotton industry in the North West of England. The work comprises a number of short movements, each focusing on a certain sonic aspect of the Mill, the most recognizable being water, steam and specific machinery, like the looms and the carder. With thanks to The National Trust and the North West Sound Archive.