The new album by the experimental electronic composer Matthew Herbert, "
One Pig," which was released today, follows the 25-week life of a single pig from its birth on a farm in the English countryside to its slaughter. The
New York Times describes the project:
After capturing the pig’s growth to maturity, oink by oink, he transformed those recordings into a dark kind of dance music punctuated by telling sounds: the moo of a nearby cow, frantic squealing, an idling truck. Each track on the album is named after a month in the pig’s journey, culminating in a banquet full of chomping and lip smacking. (Because of British law, he was not able actually to witness or record the pig’s slaughter.)
Following Herbert's announcement of his plans to pursue this work back in May 2009, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued this statement:
No one with any true talent or creativity hurts animals to attract attention. . . . Pigs are inquisitive, highly intelligent, sentient animals who become frightened when they are sent to slaughterhouses, where they kick and scream and try to escape the knife. They are far more worthy of respect than Matthew Herbert or anyone else who thinks cruelty is entertainment.
Hebert responded on his blog:
PETA have not heard a single note of music made from sounds that I have gathered since I have yet to write it. they appear to have drawn their own conclusions as to what this might all sound like. they have concluded it will be ‘entertainment.’
PETA is absolutely right though about me hoping to attract attention, although I am trying to do that by drawing in an inquisitive ear rather than by ‘hurting animals.’
The Ethical Ear will have a listen and return with some thoughts.
The new album by the experimental electronic composer Matthew Herbert, "One Pig," which was released today, follows the 25-week life of a single pig from its birth on a farm in the English countryside to its slaughter. The New York Times describes the project:
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