Several online sound projects have come to my attention and it seems that either my subscribing to sound blogs etc. has reached saturation point, or else every other website I look at has suddenly decided to develop a sonic element to their online presence. I have been planning my ideas for World Listening Day, and for the Sound:Site conference I am working on for this October, and the following items have come to my attention via the interwebs:

The National Trust Sounds album, collated by Jarvis Cocker
The OCM Sounds of Oxfordshire project by Robert Jarvis, now available to download for the princely sum of £3.16
Janek Schaefer’s Childhood Melodies album, available free via the ever-inspiring Audioh!
Announcement of forthcoming exhibit ‘Whispering in the Leaves‘ by Chris Watson, including a plethora of fine sounds to download including quality monkey sounds… (this last being most pleasing, of course, to dear Monkl featured above, playing with my knitted headphones at Love is Awesome.)

You may recall the ‘music in everything you hear remix‘ I created a few months ago; in the spirit of today’s joyous sonic overload, I have republished it here and also on my new sounds-only posterous site; a scrapbook I’m putting together on sonic-resources.

In case you were wondering about the bizarre title of this post, it comes from one of my favourite LUSH shower gels – the only cosmetic product I know of which references sound in its title – Sonic Death Monkey. Like this post, Sonic Death Monkey utilises coffee for its energising properties.

I’ll close by sharing with you my answers to the National Trust Sound Survey, which I urge you all to complete as a creative exercise in listening and thinking about sound.

1. What is your favourite sound in the world?

My favourite sound ever is my partner whispering in my ear at night. I love the physical intimacy of this sound, the way it’s a sound that’s just for me, and the sensation of the words literally touching my eardrum.

2. Which sounds evoke the National Trust to you?

The distinctive duet of very old, creaking, wooden stairs mixed with brittle, curved, wooden bannisters.

3. Which is your favourite track from our selection of sounds?

Patterson’s Spade Mill.