John McDonald

hum is an evocative pair of drone sketches—short, reflective, and quietly immersive. These are two brief, focused explorations of tone and atmosphere that reward quiet attention.

“they had no way of knowing,” begins with a soft bed of sustained tones that feel almost environmental, like distant electrical lines or wind passing through unseen machinery. Rather than developing in a traditional musical arc, the piece gently shifts in texture, allowing subtle changes in density and timbre to carry the listener forward. Its brevity works in its favour: the track feels like a snapshot, an aural impression rather than a full narrative.

The second piece, “when they stood in the fields,” deepens that sense of stillness. The drone here feels slightly warmer and more resonant, suggesting open space and quiet observation. There’s a faint emotional pull beneath the minimal surface—something contemplative, almost pastoral—like standing still long enough to notice the underlying vibrations of a landscape.

hum is interesting in its restraint. These are concise field notes from a sonic environment which blur the line between recorded sound and imagined landscape.