In 1977, NASA launched two probes, Voyagers I and II, to explore the outer planets and retrieve info that would help us better understand them. The Voyager crafts also had equipment that would let them record electromagnetic radiation. All celestial bodies, be they tiny planets or massive stars, emit electromagnetic radiation. Voyager recorded this electromagnetic radiation and sent it back to Earth where it was translated into sound waves. This is the origin of the Voyager Space Sounds, a collection of some of the most beautiful and haunting drone/dark ambient ever to grace human ears.
Song of Earth
Let's begin with the world we know best: Earth. This track was created by joining together the recordings of several different satellites orbiting Earth. The end result is a beautiful, haunting, and breath-taking natural symphony, a grand celebration of life. First, there is the low humming that serves as the foundation, sounding like the deep voice of mountains. Then there are these echoing sounds that remind one of the mysteries of the ocean depths. Finally, there is the centerpiece: an angelic sound that waxes and wanes throughout the entire song. If there was one sound that embodied the beauty and harmony of life, this would be it. All of the great wonders and majesties of Earth are best described by this song.
Voice of Earth
This track conveys a much different set of images. The song consists of a whooshing sound that is like the blowing of celestial winds. Once in a while, there is a subtle series of clicks. When taken as a whole, this reminds one of the mysteries of the night, when all the reclusive creatures emerge from their hiding places and make their calls, while the wind blows across the grasslands and the forests, together creating a cacophony of strange intrigue.
Jupiter
Next we have Jupiter, king of the planets. One thousand three hundred twenty one Earths could fit inside it. However, despite being so frightfully large, the sounds it creates are quite peaceful. A gentle breeze forms the foundation of the song. On top of that is a series of quiet humming sounds that reflect a feeling of serenity in solitude. I don't understand the intricacies, but from what I've learned, this humming is caused by magnetic particle vibrations given off by the atmosphere. Despite being home to massive storms that rage for hundreds of years, Jupiter has produced the most soothing track in this collection.
Sphere of Io
Io is the innermost of Jupiter's moons and one of the most unique moons we know. With over four hundred volcanoes, Io is the most geologically active body in the solar system. These volcanoes spew out plumes of sulfur and sulfur dioxide and the surface is covered in sulfur ice. The track perfectly reflects the moon's environment. The cold howling winds stand in stark contrast to the deep and superheated rumbling lurking beneath. Hot sulfur flies into the atmosphere where it freezes and falls to the surface, giving the moon a sick, jaundiced appearance. The core is filled with the warmth of life, but the surface is still cold and dead, just like every other moon.
Saturn
Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system and has produced the creepiest track in this collection. The winds sound much more furious, and underneath these winds are subtle howling noises that sound like the menacing screams of a billion ghosts from a civilization that perished eons ago. I know that sentient beings can be evil, but can planets be evil as well? Could some celestial bodies be hiding a concentrated core of malevolence deep within themselves? I stopped the track halfway through as the shivers it created within me were too great to ignore.
Saturn's Rings
In stark contrast to the planet itself, Saturn's Rings sound much less threatening. The track mainly consists of deep, throbbing vibrations with a gentle wind blowing underneath it. To be honest, although the rings are a marvel to look at, the sounds they create are less than impressive.
Uranus
Uranus the third largest planet in the solar system and is the only planet to spin on its side. It has the coldest atmosphere of all the planets, and the track reflects this. The winds cut at the skin like icy blades of emptiness and despair. The realm of Uranus is more barren and desolate than the dead, icy wastes of Antarctica. The heat of love abandoned this world long ago, leaving behind a void of loneliness and misery.
Rings of Uranus
Uranus also has a ring system. Although nowhere near as visually impressive as the rings of Saturn, the sounds it creates are much more interesting. The track consists of creepy high-pitched reverberations that bring to mind images of an empty playground or the abandoned town of Pripyat. It sounds just as cold and lonely as Uranus itself.
Miranda
Miranda is the smallest of the Uranian moons. Its surface is jagged and scarred to an almost grotesque degree; one of the many cliffs on its surface is three miles high. Cold winds howl across the mutilated surface. Just like Uranus and its rings, Miranda is barren, desolate, and dead. A chilling reminder that our world is the only one that harbors life.
Neptune
Neptune is the fourth largest planet in the solar system and also the most distant. We knew little about this world until Voyager visited it in 1989. Neptune was the god of the sea, and this track coincidentally reflects his nature. The whooshing and whirling sounds remind me of the deepest ocean depths, where men rarely venture. Did you know that most of the ocean floor remains unexplored? We have explored every inch of the surface, yet the ocean depths remain a mystery. Same goes for our very solar system. Space is like the ocean, only infinitely larger.
Conclusion
To be honest, I wasn't all that interested in dark ambient before this. I was amazed by what the Voyager recordings had to offer. I should seek out more dark ambient. I highly recommend the Voyager recordings to everyone everywhere. Who knew the planets could create such mesmerizing music?
Voice of Earth
This track conveys a much different set of images. The song consists of a whooshing sound that is like the blowing of celestial winds. Once in a while, there is a subtle series of clicks. When taken as a whole, this reminds one of the mysteries of the night, when all the reclusive creatures emerge from their hiding places and make their calls, while the wind blows across the grasslands and the forests, together creating a cacophony of strange intrigue.
Jupiter
Next we have Jupiter, king of the planets. One thousand three hundred twenty one Earths could fit inside it. However, despite being so frightfully large, the sounds it creates are quite peaceful. A gentle breeze forms the foundation of the song. On top of that is a series of quiet humming sounds that reflect a feeling of serenity in solitude. I don't understand the intricacies, but from what I've learned, this humming is caused by magnetic particle vibrations given off by the atmosphere. Despite being home to massive storms that rage for hundreds of years, Jupiter has produced the most soothing track in this collection.
Sphere of Io
Io is the innermost of Jupiter's moons and one of the most unique moons we know. With over four hundred volcanoes, Io is the most geologically active body in the solar system. These volcanoes spew out plumes of sulfur and sulfur dioxide and the surface is covered in sulfur ice. The track perfectly reflects the moon's environment. The cold howling winds stand in stark contrast to the deep and superheated rumbling lurking beneath. Hot sulfur flies into the atmosphere where it freezes and falls to the surface, giving the moon a sick, jaundiced appearance. The core is filled with the warmth of life, but the surface is still cold and dead, just like every other moon.
Saturn
Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system and has produced the creepiest track in this collection. The winds sound much more furious, and underneath these winds are subtle howling noises that sound like the menacing screams of a billion ghosts from a civilization that perished eons ago. I know that sentient beings can be evil, but can planets be evil as well? Could some celestial bodies be hiding a concentrated core of malevolence deep within themselves? I stopped the track halfway through as the shivers it created within me were too great to ignore.
Saturn's Rings
In stark contrast to the planet itself, Saturn's Rings sound much less threatening. The track mainly consists of deep, throbbing vibrations with a gentle wind blowing underneath it. To be honest, although the rings are a marvel to look at, the sounds they create are less than impressive.
Uranus
Uranus the third largest planet in the solar system and is the only planet to spin on its side. It has the coldest atmosphere of all the planets, and the track reflects this. The winds cut at the skin like icy blades of emptiness and despair. The realm of Uranus is more barren and desolate than the dead, icy wastes of Antarctica. The heat of love abandoned this world long ago, leaving behind a void of loneliness and misery.
Rings of Uranus
Uranus also has a ring system. Although nowhere near as visually impressive as the rings of Saturn, the sounds it creates are much more interesting. The track consists of creepy high-pitched reverberations that bring to mind images of an empty playground or the abandoned town of Pripyat. It sounds just as cold and lonely as Uranus itself.
Miranda
Miranda is the smallest of the Uranian moons. Its surface is jagged and scarred to an almost grotesque degree; one of the many cliffs on its surface is three miles high. Cold winds howl across the mutilated surface. Just like Uranus and its rings, Miranda is barren, desolate, and dead. A chilling reminder that our world is the only one that harbors life.
Neptune
Neptune is the fourth largest planet in the solar system and also the most distant. We knew little about this world until Voyager visited it in 1989. Neptune was the god of the sea, and this track coincidentally reflects his nature. The whooshing and whirling sounds remind me of the deepest ocean depths, where men rarely venture. Did you know that most of the ocean floor remains unexplored? We have explored every inch of the surface, yet the ocean depths remain a mystery. Same goes for our very solar system. Space is like the ocean, only infinitely larger.
Conclusion
To be honest, I wasn't all that interested in dark ambient before this. I was amazed by what the Voyager recordings had to offer. I should seek out more dark ambient. I highly recommend the Voyager recordings to everyone everywhere. Who knew the planets could create such mesmerizing music?
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