John Metcalfe’s Tree in Dolby Atmos

Tree, originally released in September 2023, is eight compositions that take the listener through twenty-four hours in the life of one of nature’s most majestic creations. With these new 360˚ mixes Metcalfe’s initial intentions for the album are, finally, truly delivered.

“When we walk in the woods or forest, we are in a 360 world of what we can see, feel and hear but also what we can’t – the earth below the surface, the roots of the plantlife and ecosystem of micro-organisms, fungi, and nutrients that feed and sustain what we can see. The benefits of forest bathing are well known and I think that this principle can apply to surround sound.

Stereo is a great thing but it comes at us. Surround folds us in, envelops us, we become part of it. This album was always intended for surround sound and although it wasn’t possible to compose it in that configuration from the ground up, the notion of envelopment was always part of the process. It was so exciting to sit in the middle of the music for the first time!”

 The Atmos mixes were created in the Red Room at Real World Studios, by engineer Dom Shaw in collaboration with Metcalfe.

LISTEN HERE 

Written for live players and recorded in Abbey Road Studios to convey human connection at scale, Treeimagines what it would be like to be sat completely still under a tree that you love, being alive to the ever-shifting interplay of light, colour, weather and sound. Shimmering pulsating layered tracks take the listener on a voyage that takes in the dawn chorus, depicted by conversations between chirruping woodwind and staccato strings, through to the solemnity of dusk and into the playful night. The album at times summons up the folkloric power of ancient forests through an emotional crescendo in emotion and sound, before bringing us back to sunrise, and a reflection on the journey we’ve taken.