Less Is Sound

The second edition of Less is Sound documents the soundscapes of hidden natural spots on the edge of Bratislava, layered with sonic postcards from further afield. First sparked by the need to bring sound art outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the series invites a closer, more thoughtful way of listening. Here, deep listening is treated as an ecological and political practice, pushing past anthropocentrism and opening up new forms of attention rooted in empathy. Less is Sound vol.2 took place at dawn on August 18th, 2023, at Starohájsky Ostrov, a rare uncultivated pocket of nature near Slovakia’s capital, home to nearly fifty bird species. Across minimalist vocal pieces from Adela Mede, electro-acoustic interplay from Jonatan Pastirčák and Petr Vrba, a playful participatory work by Luc Vitk, and drone-rich landscapes from Lea Bertucci, these recordings listen to the local