Title image source:www.mixmag.net

 

A world-first vinyl record infused with coal dust was released on Monday (November 3), as part of a collaborative project celebrating the past, present, and future of the UK’s mining communities.

Created by the climate hope charity Threads in the Ground in partnership with the Durham Miners’ Association Brass Band, ‘Ancestral Reverb’ blends spoken word, colliery brass, and experimental sound to explore what its makers call Britain’s “carbon heritage.”

“Carbon heritage is the stories and traditions that are alive in the communities and families that have been part of our carbon-intensive industries,” director Adam Cooper told Mixmag.

“It goes well beyond the idea of a carbon footprint – it’s about solidarity, graft, and building something for future generations.”

The 20-minute track, produced by DJ Bert Verso, features Newcastle folk artist Richard Dawson performing words drawn from interviews with former miners and their families, curated by award-winning poet Jacob Polley.

Also featuring on the record is the Durham Miners’ Association Brass Band duetting with itself over 100 years apart, performing new arrangements of 'Slaidburn' with original pit band recordings from 1912 to create what Cooper describes as “a living conversation between generations.”

The coal mines themselves were central to the project. The coal dust embedded into the transparent vinyl was gathered during a community project on Blackhall Colliery beach. The team also digitally captured the reverb of an old drift mine using impulse response technology to produce what the artists call “the sound of carbon.”

Only 100 copies of ‘Ancestral Reverb’ will be pressed, with archival editions held at Redhills, the National Coal Mining Museum, and the British Library.

Cooper said the project is “not about coal, but about choice - using the power in our past to shape a better energy future.”

Historically, the Durham coalfield was a major centre of coal mining in Britain, contributing to the nation’s industrial development. Its mining heritage is commemorated annually at the Durham Miners’ Gala, one of the largest celebrations of mining communities and working-class culture. 

Today, the North-East remains relevant to the future of energy and is home to the world's largest offshore wind farm.

“Over a period of 200 years, the miners came together, self-educated, and accrued power for themselves," Cooper added. "They won minimum wages, maximum working hours, and even created the blueprint for the NHS. That heritage is alive in that place and we want the record to voice that history.”

'Ancestral Reverb' is out now and free to download and available to listen here.

Article Originally Posted on www.mixmag.net