Sound-enhanced poems
from my full-length poetry collections 'Steps',
published by Longbarrow Press markgoodwinsteps.wordpress.com

steps / sounds has been designed to be primarily listened to
through headphones

1. Forced Moment at El Torcal, Andalucía 5:45

vocal recorded using my condenser microphone in my brother’s old bedroom at my parents’ farm in south Leicestershire
sound-enhanced aboard the boat I live on in north Leicestershire
all sounds (except for voice) produced using only my digital audio workstation (DAW)
mastered using my DAW in Steve Gibb’s studio in Leicester


2. Now Step From I’s Structures

recorded using Steve Gibb’s valve microphone
in his recording booth

the recording of Step From I was mastered by Steve,
this recording was then mixed with Now’s Structures (track 9)
using my DAW

final master using my DAW at home


3. Now’s Structures & M1 3:46

recorded using my field-recorder at the side of the M1
near to Junction 20 in south Leicestershire
minimal editing, and mastered using my DAW aboard my boat

It took me five attempts to get the introduction right, and still I got the junction number wrong – some part of me in this recording is one junction northbound of some other part of me! Had I known the traffic noise was going to be so bewildering, I would’ve written down the introduction. You can also hear the strain in my voice as I read – what is a favourite poem of mine about a favourite moment in the mountains – whilst the M1 churns ...


4. Bosigran & Rain 4:08

recorded using my field-recorder at night beside the brook
on my dad’s farm in south Leicestershire
minimal editing, and mastered using my DAW on the boat

Not surprisingly, I found reading next to a stream of water
much easier than next to a stream of traffic.


5. Mapcraft 3:57

6. Dead and Unburied 6:12


7. Serpent & Sea Window 10:54

vocals recorded using my condenser mic in my brother’s old bedroom in my parent’s farm house in south Leicestershire
includes field-recording of sea, next to St Mary’s Well (across from Bardsey Island) on the tip of the Llyn Peninsula, March 2010
sound produced & mixed using my DAW, aboard my boat
female vocal in Mapcraft sung by Nikki Clayton. Nikki’s voice appears again in Serpent & Sea Window, transformed first into the high-pitched ‘pipes’, and then the lower pitched ‘pipes’, using my DAW.
mastered using my DAW in Steve Gibb’s studio in Leicester


8. Thuds of Sea-Crash 6:23

vocals recorded using my field-recorder
in my bedroom cabin aboard my boat
includes field-recording of sea & pebbles whilst near
Porthleven in Cornwall, February 2009
sound produced & mixed using my DAW, aboard the boat
mastered using my DAW in Steve Gibb’s studio in Leicester


9. Now’s Structures 2:54

recorded by Steve Gibbs in his sound booth using his valve microphone
sound produced, mixed and mastered using my DAW, whilst home afloat


10. Step From I 2:31

vocals recorded in my bedcabin using my field-recorder
includes field recording from: Watermead Park near to where I live, just to the north of Leicester, December 2009; and arable fields & very young woodland just beyond the north eastern rim of Leicester, December 2013
mixed using my DAW aboard Carpe Diem
mastered using my DAW in Steve Gibb’s studio in Leicester



The purchase of equipment and mentoring – from Steve Gibbs – that made producing this sound-enhanced poetry album possible,
was funded by Arts Council England.