Review: Ellie Wilson - Listen To The River Ching (Independent)

Introducing an "immersive sonic journey of the riverbank and its underwater world", Ellie Wilson's 'Listen To The River Ching', the little known Lea Valley waterway that has more to reveal than you'd think!

If you're familiar with the groups Detwiije, REVERE and Stick In The Wheel, you'll know composer/violinist Ellie Wilson and, with some of her local friends, this new single is her 'love letter' to the River Ching that's deep in Epping Forest.

Picking up where the album 'Echoes: Uneathering Stories Of The Forest' (2019) left off (when she was the Forests' 'Artist In Residence') and sonically picks up fans of the Enclosure Acts, Public Protest, Queen Victoria's "lungs of London" quote, John Roberts and Radio 4's 'Open Country' (see links below).

Not only that, Ellie was inspired by her great-grandfather's copy of Henry Hawkins’ book 'Epping Forest – London’s Great Legacy' (1895) as the readings are incorporated it connects "past and present through place, memory and listening".  

So this all sounds very local (think global) a la the recent 'Ocean Songs' collaboration (see HERE).  And at the same time,  it's like a complementry antidote to Leo Chadburn's 'tribute' to his his hometown of Coalville, Leicestershire and the industrial ruination of the Midlands (on last year's 'Sleep In the Shadow Of The Alternator' - see review HERE) 

The reality is, the area is a mere stones throw from the urban areas of Chingford, Wanstead, Leyton, Leytonstone, Walthamstow that are so East London now compared to the Essex boarders of the 19th Century when the book was written.  Thankfully the area is still boarded by the Lea Valley and Wanstead Flats and this 'Tales Of The Riverbank' was commissioned by the Ching Action Group and funded by a grant from Waltham Forest's ‘Make it Happen’ with support from Highams Park Planning Group.and features the puplils with vision impairment from the local Joseph Clarke School.

The work combines "percussion and whispered voices (water spirits) captured in the classroom with field recordings of the riverbank and its underwater world. This is combined with violin, synthesiser, piano, percussion and sound design for an immersive experience, evoking the flow of the river as it meanders through Epping Forest and slips quietly past back gardens, playing fields and allotments" and possibly some notorious spots too!

It's like a modern day Forest/Water based 'The Imagined Village' where the natural found sounds, spoken word/poetry touch the river and forest, particulary on the title track, 'Listen To The River Ching'.

Launch Event: Wednesday 6 May 12.30-16:30 Brookfield Meadow, Highams Park

John Rogers (writer/film-maker "Ellie Wilson’s Listen to the River Ching gives voice to this magickal watercourse, featuring field recordings, composition and readings the Ching speaks to us through Ellie’s enchanting creation. Such a beautiful tribute to this essential capillary of London" - thelostbyway.com - A Walk Along The River Ching (link HERE).

Open Country - BBC Radio 4 - Open Country, The People's Forest 

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://elliewilson.bandcamp.com/album/listen-to-the-river-ching-single

Even more info: https://www.elliewilsonmusic.co.uk/listen-to-the-river-ching & Ellie's ongoing project Moth x Human which got quite a lot of exposure last year: https://www.elliewilsonmusic.co.uk/news-1/2025/7/26/out-now-on-nmc-recordings

Ching Action Group (volunteers that aims to improve the River Ching for people and nature along the river and enhance local people’s relationship with green spaces) to see the work that they are doing go to their Facebook

Ellie Wilson: composer, violin, hardanger fiddle, voice, sound design
Pupils from Joseph Clarke School: whispered voices, shakers
Thom Ashworth: mix, master, sound design

Artist: Ellie Wilson
Title: Listen To The River Ching
Release date: 6th May, 2026
Label: Independent

Cat. No:EW006

Format: Bandcamp / Digital