Wildlife CD launches new era

He was more used to the beats of pop music than the tweets of birdsong. For Andrew Flintham, however, the sounds of Norfolk wildlife - and the threat to its future - inspired him to create a soundtrack with a difference, which is to be released around the world.

He was more used to the beats of pop music than the tweets of birdsong.

For Andrew Flintham, however, the sounds of Norfolk wildlife - and the threat to its future - inspired him to create a soundtrack with a difference, which is to be released around the world.

Brecklands Dawn Chorus, a soothing 70-minute CD, was created after Mr Flintham and his business partner Tim Ilot became concerned about the growing problem of hearing pure bird song without interference from outside sources such as cars and planes.

“It took nine attempts to record the full dawn chorus due to ambient noise,” said Mr Flintham, who runs the new Norwich-based label Overthrill Records with Mr Ilot.

“In the end we had to do it on a bank holiday Monday while everyone was still in bed sleeping off the weekend's activities.

“It has been recorded in a type of surround sound called mid and side recording that makes it feel very realistic.”

To capture the dawn chorus, the pair had to get to the woodland, near Thetford, at 3am but until the final attempt they could only capture about 30 minutes before they became aware of outside noise.

Originally recorded and released in the 1990s, the CD is back by popular demand - and now has a worldwide distribution network.

The cover has been re-designed by Aleph Studio which has also done work for Led Zeppelin and Kate Bush.

“There were several runs of 1,000 copies in the 1990s and it was played all over the place, including in prisons and it is still played in care homes and in pubs to help people relax,” said Mr Flintham, 45.

A downloadable version is available now from online music stores while the CD will hit shops on September 29 priced £10.95.