The Jellyfish

"Properly called Medusans, these gelatinous invertebrates can survive conditions hostile to most other marine life, and in large numbers they pose significant threats to other species, so the increasing number of jellyfish 'blooms' comes as a warning about the failing health of our oceans. In writing this piece I use the cold, silent world of the jellyfish as a window into the lifeless void our oceans are set to become if we continue to destroy them. The text by Alfonzo Sieveking is an extended apocalyptic metaphor, hinging on the ambigous meaning of 'strange clouds', 'sirens', and 'neverending silence'. Using iridescent harmonies, slithering glissandi, and a pervasive 'siren' motif, The Jellyfish is a disquieting lullaby for a world sleepwalking into crisis."

Recorded in Ely Cathedral, 2024.