Panthalassa was the super ocean that surrounded the super continent Pangaea during the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic. The ocean occupied almost 70% of Earth's surface
The new album Panthalassa, released on Rattle Records is an abstract and impressionist work in which conceptual ideas are explored through the luminous ngā taonga pūoro playing of Al Fraser, the evocative atmospheric soundscapes of Neil Johnstone, and the virtuosic drones and textures created by guitar player Sam Leamy.
Al Fraser, Sam Leamy & Neil Johnstone Photo: Supplied
Life within the massive Panthalassa super ocean was slowly recovering from a mass extinction on earth where up to 96% of all marine life disappeared. Algae, sponge, corals, and crustaceans all had recovered, and new aquatic reptiles evolved, such as ichthyosaurs and nothosaurs that may have lived like seals of today, catching food in water but coming ashore on rocks and beaches.
The Panthalassa album uses hydro-phonic recordings of today's migrating marine animals, made by NIWA in Cook Strait/Raukawa. These recordings present a rich and diverse sonic environment, which may change in the future due to the diminishing of native marine species. Panthalassa is a response to the on-going erosion and potential loss of this environment as well as an attempt to reflect the strangeness (to humans) of whale, dolphin and seal consciousness.
The album features a wealth of talented guest musicians including Orchestra of Spheres' Erika Grant on ocean harp and Phil Boniface on double bass.
This haunting track, Hīnātore, meaning phosphorescence, features the voice of Ariana Tikao.
