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‘See the World Anew Vol. 2' – Steve Hadfield (SBA #037)

It’s almost a year since the last release from Steve Hadfield on See Blue Audio, ‘See the World Anew Vol. 1’, which marked the end of summer and a period of transformation both in his personal life and the world around him. This caused Steve to look at everything with fresh eyes, and nearly a year later, and to herald the beginning of summer this time around, we have ‘See the World Anew Vol. 2’, his sixth collection for See Blue Audio and the thirty-seventh release on the label.

The moon provided inspiration for volume one, and for its successor we turn to the sea; in particular, the vast oceans and the creatures that dwell within their depths. As always, Steve’s creative process is highly personal and influenced by the growth of his daughter, but also forged in the cauldron of world events. From a global pandemic and populist politics to war and humanitarian crisis, it’s difficult not to view the world with a mixture of wonder and dread. This is reflected in the variety of music Steve has released recently, including 'Rhubarb and Custard' for the Bricolage imprint and a forthcoming album on Waxing Crescent Records, but ‘See the World Anew Vol. 2’ is a return to the distinctive fusion of ambient/modern classical and glitchy electronics that always characterises his output on See Blue Audio.

As ‘See the World Anew Vol. 1’ was inspired by post-pandemic gazing at the night sky with his daughter, volume two also takes its cue from another visual experience: her fascination with sea creatures as seen on the television from an early age. Naturally, David Attenborough’s renowned aquatic programmes were her guide, and ‘The Deep’ from ‘The Blue Planet’ series, where the carcass of a whale serves as a feeding ground for other creatures at the bottom of the ocean, kept her spellbound through numerous viewings. Steve also noticed how the soundtrack empathised the struggles of nature, and this new collection is drawn from seeing his daughter connect with this fabulous world and the joy it created within him.

‘See the World Anew Vol. 2’ follows a similar pattern to volume one with six succinct but diverse tracks. ‘Manta Ray’ opens the second collection and its beatless landscape and marine sounds set the scene perfectly, but danger is lurking in the shadows. In contrast, ‘Spider Crabs’ is a mass of jittery beats and anxious sounds as if moving fast is an imperative. The music takes a deeper dive on ‘Six-Gilled Shark’ with brooding synths and stealthy strings that reflect the predatory nature of this animal. Steve’s daughter takes centre stage on ‘The Deep Blue Sea’ and her sampled chatter alongside playful melodies reminds us that fascination with the natural world is a vital part of the human experience. This theme continues on ‘Seahorse’ where Steve recreates the delicate nature of these creatures and their gentle movements in sublime style. It also provides a pause for reflection before the epic closing track.

‘The Dead Whale’ takes us to the origin of this aquatic odyssey. Like the event itself, it combines humility in the face of nature expressed through a beatless, symphonic soundscape, and awe at the might of the ocean with its spine-tingling crescendo. The cycle of life is now complete, and we are bystanders who can only look and learn.

As with its predecessor, ‘See the World Anew Vol. 2’ is an invitation through music from Steve Hadfield to look at the world in a new light. Sparked by childlike discovery but created using the contemplation that comes with the passing of time, it’s a magnificent way to welcome the warmth of summer and the renewal it brings.

Photography: R.Cleveland Aaron.