How did music begin? It could be that in ancient times, prehistoric humans discovered and learnt songs and melodies by listening to birds. One day there won’t be any birds left. Two thirds of them have disappeared from the French countryside over the past fifteen years. Perhaps on that fateful day people will even forget how to sing… But at least this poetic album will be around to testify to the encounters between birds and mankind. Well, one man in particular. He’s called Cosmo Sheldrake and he’s an eccentric British pop genius who has created music from the sounds of nature and his environment. Having already made a name for himself with his brilliant previous recordings (including The Much Much How How and I, a Qobuzissime album from 2018), Cosmo Sheldrake has now released Wake Up Calls, an album composed entirely from the songs of endangered English birds. It’s an incredible record with an incredible choir and the result is truly magical. Initially, he wanted to make music for waking up in the morning. The songs sound a bit like they’re played on a barrel organ, with birds locked up inside. Though these birds are free and the songs are so much more than alarm clocks: it’s a call to be ecologically aware and to appreciate the world around you. Close your eyes, let yourself go and you might find you don’t even want to get up! You find yourself transported to the forest, right up in the treetops. You pass from branch to branch, hearing sweet chirping and the occasional twit-twoo... It’s almost like you’ve become a bird – you’ve certainly got goose bumps, that’s for sure! © Stéphane Deschamps/Qobuz