Bernie Krause's legendary soundscapes uncover nature’s rich sonic tapestry — along with some unexpected results.

Why you should listen

With a stellar electronic music resumé including work with The Byrds, Stevie Wonder and many others, Bernie Krause is assured a place in the pop culture canon. But Krause continues to make history by capturing the fading voices of nature: studying sonic interplay between species as they attract mates, hunt prey, and sound out their roles in the ecosystem.

Krause’s recordings are not merely travelogues or relaxation tools -- they are critical barometers of global environmental health. His documents of vanishing aural habitats are a chilling reminder of shrinking biodiversity. As he tells the Guardian: "The fragile weave of natural sound is being torn apart by our seemingly boundless need to conquer the environment rather than to find a way to abide in consonance with it."

What others say

“[Krause] is high on hippo grunts and insect drones, having spent decades recording and archiving wild soundscapes.” — The New York Times

Bernie Krause’s TED talk

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