Absent Voices is series of films supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Absent Voices is an artist-led project centred on the Scottish town of Greenock, telling the creative story of Greenock’s sugar industry. Using the Category A listed Sugar Sheds on James Watt Dock as a catalyst, eight artists worked within the community and reached out to the wider world. The series was screened at Body Electric in Colorado USA (2013), Filmpoem Festival in Dunbar, Scotland (2013), Felix Poetry Festival in Antwerp, Belgium (2014) and Absent Voices in Greenock, Scotland (2014); the series was performed live with the poets and composer Luca Nasciuti at the Scottish Poetry Library.Each of the films is directed and edited by Alastair Cook.
Every Memory
Every Memory is the first in a series of seven films commissioned by Every Memory was written and read by Sheree Mack and features a soundtrack by Luca Nasciuti and cinematography by Swoon (Marc Neys).
Animal Charcoal
Animal Charcoal is the second in a series of seven films commissioned by Absent Voices. Animal Charcoal was written and Gerard Rudolf and features a soundtrack by Yvonne Lyon with found sounds recorded in the Sugar Sheds by Alastair Cook.
Revenant
Revenant is the third in a series of seven films commissioned by Absent Voices. Revenant was written and read by Jane McKie and features Rebecca Joy Sharp on clarsach.
How Well It Burns
How Well It Burns is the fourth in a series of seven films commissioned by Absent Voices. How Well It Burns was written and read by the late Brian Johnstone and features a commissioned cello soundtrack by Rebecca Rowe and uses footage of Allied WW2 raids courtesy of the Ministry of Defence.
The God of Sugar
The God of Sugar is the fifth in a series of seven films commissioned by Absent Voices. The poem The God of Sugar was written and read by Vicki Feaver and features a soundtrack by Luca Nasciuti with cinematography by James William Norton.
Yesterday’s Noise
Yesterday’s Noise is the sixth in a series of seven films commissioned by Absent Voices. The poem Yesterday’s Noise was written and read by John Glenday and features a soundtrack by Luca Nasciuti with cinematography by James William Norton.
Alba
Alba is the seventh in a series of seven films commissioned by Absent Voices. Alba is a poem by John Glenday arranged for music by Luci Holland with vocals by Colleen Nicoll, cello by Katie Johnston, piano by Sarah Becker with sound engineering by Josh Sabin. Song of the Clyde was used with permission of the British Council.