Isone, October 9, 2023
I was walking around the military area of Isone, in Ticino, Switzerland, two days after the October 7th attack. It’s in the Alps, near a military zone where soldiers and special forces train for “operations.” That day, bombs were exploding non-stop. It was loud and ridiculous. But a more realistic description of Swiss «neutrality» and a good perspective on the alpine sonic environments.
In the first part of the recording, I’m just walking around the village of Isone, about 150 – 200 meters from the entrance to the military zone, in public space. At some point, the exercise stops, and I start rambling about the mandatory Swiss Army, how I avoided being drafted and how young people are brainwashed in Isone, and a few random anecdotes. I also mention how weird it is that the exercises are so intense just two days after the Hamas attack. Then, more bombs explode very loudly, and you hear a guy nearby complaining in Italian about the noise. I make fun of the fact that, in Switzerland, the main issue with bombs is… the noise. Then the village church bells start ringing. That’s how this one-take recording ends.
I like the recording, mostly because of how the sounds spread and bounce around the valley. It’s also weird how no one is afraid of those sounds. Except the dogs. They know what’s going on.