forms of minutiae presents Harkening Critters, the label’s second non-profit compilation of field recordings and soundscape compositions highlighting, this time, the incredible variety of animal signals.

Stemming from the archaic verb “harken” which means “to listen” or “to give respectful attention to”, indeed, this gathering of contributions from 32 field recordists and sound artists from across the world tunes in to the plethora of vocalizations, mechanical emanations, and any other acoustics phenomenon produced by animals.

Over the course of 4 hours, the compilation invites listeners to immerse themselves in non-human semantics and sonic traces, spanning from the little-known vibroscape of insects, the hiccuping calls of hammer-headed bats, the peculiar gurgles of rock ptarmigans, the eerie signals of ribbon seals, the formic attacks of ants, a detour to the rhythm of yeast, the rustles of pink river dolphins, to the whimsical cries of tropical frogs, and many more.

Yet, the title ‘harkening critters’ holds an ambiguity. Are the critters being listened to, or are they the ones listening? Who is who?