Lasse-Marc Riek

Audio work by Thomas M. Siefert and Lasse-Marc Riek (2004–ongoing)

How can we, as humans in the modern age, cultivate a relationship with the Rhine River without falling back into romanticized perceptions when we encounter its remaining beauty in rare, untouched places? How can we avoid turning away in frustration and disillusionment when faced with the irreversible changes it has undergone?

What happens when we shift our focus from the dominant sense of sight to hearing?

Could you recognize the Rhine by its sound?

What other senses might assist in this experience?

Do I possess enough sensory awareness to answer these questions?

Must I, and can I, develop new senses?

With these questions as a starting point, rhein_strom has explored the Rhine acoustically and visually across various locations and seasons over the past seven years. This work has led to a close examination of the ambient sounds, the soundscape, and the "sound entity" of the Rhine.

The “Rhine soundscape” is not merely the sound of flowing, gurgling, or gently rippling water. It also encompasses the animals and humans who live by the river, moving and resting along its banks.

In addition to capturing the sounds of the present, the project also sought the echoes of the past: listening back to what has remained and forward to what could yet emerge.

The first release, von der rheinquelle bis hafen karlsruhe, was published by Gruenrekorder.