Manhattan soundwalk, New York
Field recording of a classic New York soundscape, walking through midtown Manhattan starting from 8th & 37th late at night. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
3m Nov 13, 2022
3m
Migration of whales over the Vale of Health Pond
"The Vale of Health pond apparently is a drained marsh area called Hatches bottom (of questionable repute) circa 1770. So I cleaned up the recording and thought about how the people hoped a name change would bring people to recreate and live. In the 1800s it became a hotspot for writers and such so I introduced some tone but not enough to cover the whole pond. In 1973 a committee was set up to...
5m Nov 11, 2022
5m
Matins in the countryside
"When I first heard this field recording, it immediately made me feel like I was being awaken by cockerels in a farmstead not far from a convent where nuns could be heard singing Matins. Therefore I created a choir and added some melodic sounds to suit the idyllic landscape the overall sounds lead me to imagine being in. To the original sound I simply added some forest echo and then mixed it wi...
7m Nov 11, 2022
7m
Chicks and cocks and trips in the Azores
"This is such a familiar natural sound one that could be heard anywhere on the planet. I thought it would be interesting to just manipulate small sections of the original recording and build up layers. In the end it got fairly psychedelic with very little manipulation." Roosters in the forest reimagined by Euan McAleece.
11m Nov 11, 2022
11m
Among the Azorean roosters
At a crossroads in the forest near the Salto do Prego waterfall on Sao Miguel in the Azores, we stop for lunch among a few proud roosters, a selection of hens and some chicks. The hens and chicks are feeding close to the microphone of our recorder, while the cockerels crow and jostle for supremacy around us. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
5m Nov 11, 2022
5m
Morning on the farm, the Azores
At Casa da Palha on Sao Miguel in the Azores, we listen on a clear, bright morning to the sounds of cows, donkeys and various birds feeding in the field next to us. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
5m Nov 11, 2022
5m
Morning at the Vale of Health pond
A sunny 8am Tuesday morning at the Vale of Health pond, Hampstead Heath London. You can hear a variety of different birds singing including two geese who were sat in the water near by. In the background is the buzz of the morning traffic and you hear the footsteps of a runner near the end of the recording. Recorded by Ross Burns.
6m Nov 11, 2022
6m
The chef
The original field recording focuses on the conversation of one specific speaker, a budding chef who talks about learning how to cook from recipes and cooking his own meals. Behind this, the sounds of New York build and grow, with passing traffic and sirens swallowing up the conversation. This composition, titled The Chef, starts with our protagonist's words front and centre over a musical sou...
4m Nov 06, 2022
4m
New York streetscape - Houston Street, Manhattan
A soundscape qalking down Houston Street, New York focusing mostly on one man's conversation, with traffic and street noises and a passing police siren. Binaural recording - best to listen  with headphones. Recorded by overmedium.
7m Nov 06, 2022
7m
The integrity of the gesture was lost
"The title “The integrity of the gesture was lost” and the inspiration for this composition came from Antwerp, a novella by the Chilean author Roberto Bolaño. He said he wrote the book “for the ghosts, who, because they're outside of time, are the only ones with time.” This is the sentence that hooked me in: “Fleeing together long ago became living together and thus the integrity of the gesture...
7m Nov 03, 2022
7m
Art and Reality on the Grand Canal, Venice (2022)
"A fantasy taking place on Venice's Grand Canal. A stroller along the Canal walks into a world-famous art show, and quickly leaves again. Somehow, life on the Canal seems more real, and attractive, than life inside the walls of Art. He walks further, inland from the Canal, through a small campo (open area), and ends where the only sounds are pigeons and distant children playing. True peace!" V...
3m Nov 03, 2022
3m
The Grand Canal, heard from the Peggy Guggenheim
The sounds of Venice's legendary Grand Canal, as heard from the palazzo of the equally legendary Peggy Guggenheim art gallery - the classic sounds of Venetian boat traffic. Recorded by Cities and Memory, August 2022.
6m Nov 03, 2022
6m
Antwerp Port Epic cyclists race on unpaved road
Since 2015, unpaved roads were included in the route of the then "Schaal Sels" cycling race, which meant that the race was followed both at home and abroad. This increasing international media attention led to the race continuing to be known as the "Antwerp Port Epic". A large part of the race is ridden in the Antwerp Polder, where a large number of rural dirt roads and tricky cobbled sections ...
5m Nov 03, 2022
5m
Wildlife at dawn, Nantou mountains
Sound of wildlife at dawn in the Nantou mountain forests, near Zhongliao Township in Taiwan. Recorded by James A. Holland.
10m Nov 02, 2022
10m
Filtered water
Salto do Rosal in the Azores reimagined by Simon Woods. "The original waterfall sounds have been filtered in many different ways. Added to this are recordings water with contact and standard microphones. "Synths sounds of water both analogue and FM based before conventional synth sounds finally added."
4m Nov 02, 2022
4m
Fadophonic memories
Coimbra jazz quartet reimagined by Scott Lawrence Whitman. "I looped and processed the original short phrase heard at the beginning of the piece via granular and modular synthesis adding only percussion."
6m Nov 02, 2022
6m
Before 6am
Nantou mountain soundscape reimagined by Ryan Chiang. "Everything growing dramatically fast outside the time and space we can reach and perceived."
4m Nov 02, 2022
4m
Have you been licking frogs again?
Canadian swamp soundscape reimagined by Andrea Callea. "A soothing ambient piece almost completely comprised of derivative sounds from the original "Canada Prince George Frogs Croaking", transformed with heavy use of DSP. "At first, I picked the "Canada Prince George Frogs Croaking" as one of the most uniform and with, basically, a single source. As the "cleanest source" to build a soundscape...
20m Nov 02, 2022
20m
Jazz quartet on the streets of Coimbra
A saxophone-led jazz quartet set up on a staircase in an alleyway in the backstreets of Coimbra, during the Coimbra Jazz Festival, May 2022. The sound of the music reverberates around off the tall buildings around us, and mixes with the lively street sounds of passers-by in the town centre. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
6m Nov 02, 2022
6m
Salto do Rosal waterfall, Azores
A walk in the forests outside the town of Furnas on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, culminating in a visit to the hidden Salto do Rosal waterfall, from where this recording was made. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
3m Nov 02, 2022
3m
Frogs waking up early
Frogs in early spring, just as the sun is rising and sunshine hits the swamp in Prince George, Canada. Recorded by Latham Elle.
3m Nov 02, 2022
3m
Chainsaw lullaby
This is probably the only time we've ever found the sound of a chainsaw relaxing. Listening from a couple of hundreds metres above, we're watching a man work on some large logs with two different types of chainsaw, while around us the scene is idyllic. Mountain trees rustle gently in the breeze, there is the occasional burst of birdsong, and up in the mountains the air is so pure and free from ...
7m Oct 30, 2022
7m
Chainsawing in the mountains
Staying overnight at Rifugio San Marco in the Dolomites, we hear the sound of someone chainsawing logs off at a distance, somewhere below us. You can hear two different types of chainsaw being started up and used, one smaller and one larger, birdsong, and the wind gently rustling through the trees all around us. Oddly, at such a distance and being carried by the unique qualities of mountain air...
3m Oct 30, 2022
3m
Chav Brass at the Whit Friday brass band contest, UK
A British-style brass band marching down the High Street in Delph, Saddleworth, playing to a crowd of several thousand, as part of the traditional Whit Friday brass band marches and contests in North West England. Recorded by Phil Driscoll.
4m Oct 28, 2022
4m
Praise be to Delph
"I took the chant of “Delph” and mixed it with an old recording of part of a church service. I adapted the brass band sound and mixed this in as well. The idea is that there is a religious fervour to the chant in support of Delph brass band in the brass band competition." Brass band competition in Delph, UK reimagined by Jon Ogara.
11m Oct 28, 2022
11m
A non-place to be
"Yokohama station attracted me because it is a non-place, one of those places where we meet other human beings without creating any relationship, places that must have no history or identity. "Places such as hospital corridors, doctor’s waiting rooms, public offices, reception areas and also the rooms of certain hotels. "Generally, entering these non-places requires us to show some sort of id...
4m Oct 23, 2022
4m
Vicenza busker
Guitar busker in Vicenza reimagined by Finlay Wright. "A lovely recording I felt compelled to leave be, and just add a simple synth line or two to."
3m Oct 23, 2022
3m
Train song, Yokohama
"Above the station an eerie whine emanates, the labouring train gasps." Recorded at Yokohama station by Emiko Morita.
2m Oct 23, 2022
2m
On the streets of Vicenza
On the main shopping street of Corso Andrea Palladio in Vicenza, northern Italy, we listen to a busker with a guitar singing an Italian song in the middle of the Christmas holidays, as shoppers pass by. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
3m Oct 23, 2022
3m
What's happening in Seattle?
"A surreal exchange of words by the Aurora Bridge, near the railway. A dialogue between unlikely spies that makes a mockery of spy stories with irony and nonsense." Hannover hydroelectric plant reimagined by Cristina Marras.
3m Oct 21, 2022
3m
Bells chime for the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Belfast
On Friday, September 9, 2022, at 12:00 pm, various church bells across the UK sounded off in tribute to the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll, following her passing on September 8th, 2022. The recording took place on the front lawn of the Lanyon Building, the main building of Queen’s University Belfast, which also brought its main flag down to half-mast position. Sounds of daily lif...
10m Oct 21, 2022
10m
Ripple
"In the field recording, the church bell is the sound I want to highlight and respond to. But how should I answer with the bell? How can I preserve the uniqueness of this recording? "Instead of replying to it musically, I chose to process the recording in my own way. I kept the content. I transformed it from reality to an abstract world." Bells for Queen Elizabeth II in Belfast reimagined by ...
7m Oct 21, 2022
7m
Hydroelectric power plant, Hannover
In this recording, you can hear the power of water in a small power plant in Hanover. The driven turbine can be heard from inside. Recorded by Jürgen Morgenstern-Feise.
2m Oct 21, 2022
2m
Well-Being Cities
Well-Being Cities is a unique collaboration between Cities and Memory and C40, a global network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading cities collaborating to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis. Thirty-five artists from 14 countries all over the world were chosen from a global open call for applications. Each has taken inspiration from a field recording f...
22m Oct 17, 2022
22m
Well-Being Cities - the sound installation
*To recreate the effect of this sound installation, we strongly recommend listening through headphones.* The Well-Being Cities sound installation is an hour-long interactive tour across 31 countries, starting with the furthest from Buenos Aires in Seoul, with each destination one step closer until we arrive at our host city with the final recording. On one side of the installation space, you ...
56m Oct 17, 2022
56m
A journey on a Piccadilly tram
"A journey through Manchester on a Piccadilly line tram, taking in a few musical sounds of the city. The background sounds are made up of fragments of the tram sounds." Piccadilly station in Manchester reimagined by Simon Woods.
4m Oct 13, 2022
4m
Tram sounds in Manchester Piccadilly
The sound of trams entering and leaving from the tunnel-like Piccadilly tram station space in Manchester. We hear the screech of wheels, the beeps of intercoms, passengers entering and leaving, and engine sounds reflecting the reverb sounds of the tunnel. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
3m Oct 13, 2022
3m
In an ancient Gothic corridor
The haunting drone of an air conditioning unit in an ancient corridor in the impressive John Rylands library in Manchester. The unit is designed to dry out the air to protect the ancient and valuable books, and the building itself, but adds a sinister edge to such a dark, almost Gothic space. The library was commissioned in 1890 by his wife Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her late husband. Thi...
4m Oct 12, 2022
4m
Airconoclastik
"I selected different parts of the original sample and processed them through a number of digital resonators and filters to achieve the final result." John Rylands library air conditioning reimagined by Rod Dykeman.
3m Oct 12, 2022
3m
Push him back
"I love the various chants in the original field recording so I've used those at the centre of my reimagined piece. I isolated them and created a melody behind them. I have also used various other samples from the original recording to create background rhythms. The name of the piece comes from a comment by someone in the crowd." Arsenal vs. Leicester City reimagined by Richard Watts.
4m Oct 10, 2022
4m
One nil to the Arsenal
Arsenal vs. Leicester City, 13 March 2022. Thomas Partey scores the first goal in a 2-0 win, provoking wild celebrations, cheering and chanting in the North Bank corner at the Emirates Stadium, London. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
3m Oct 10, 2022
3m
Welcome to Abundancia
""The Piece is called "Welcome to Abundancia". Abundancia is the name of the imaginary city that has achieved a state of total balance, harmony, abundance and integration of nature. It serves as a playground and safe home for it citizens and provides all that is needed for its people and animals to thrive and (Abun)dance together. The track invites you to experience how it sounds and feels to s...
8m Oct 09, 2022
8m
Against Coca-Cola
"Having visited Rwanda a few years ago, when exploring its urban markets, as well as what is different, one is struck by what is similar - monolithic global brands like Coca-Cola and Nike stamp their presence on even the tiniest, most characterful spaces in human lives. "The brand colours, logos and slogans have invaded every urban space on the planet. Wherever there is commerce, there are the...
5m Oct 09, 2022
5m
Everyday utopias
"Upon hearing the original sound recording of sirens in Copenhagen, it struck me how difficult a task it is to truly create an equitable, healthy and climate-safe approach to what well-being might look like for the cities of the world. This is especially evident in light of current world events which are not limited to the Russian invasion into Ukraine and the threat of the use of nuclear weapo...
13m Oct 09, 2022
13m
Dawn rises above a city of the future
"Fair, effective, harmonious future city design (either from scratch or via retro-fit of what already exists) needs to be a hugely detailed, balancing act that takes into account so many different considerations. For example - environmental impact and sustainability need to be balanced against simple everyday functionality; the two aspects are far from mutually exclusive, but their successful i...
8m Oct 09, 2022
8m
We won the war against poverty
"I started from the idea that the organization of the city and its meeting spaces has a profound impact on society. So I collected the already existing examples of 'hostile architecture' taking them to the extreme, I imagined the worst possible scenario, where no type of aggregation is allowed if not linked to consumption. I took negativity to the extreme (the fight against poverty is won by ph...
5m Oct 09, 2022
5m
The story of tomorrow
"My composition focused on imagining how I would like to feel in my future city, taking into account the keywords of the project: well-being, health, climate-safe, green, equitable, as well as my personal sensations: harmony, balance, respect, warm environment and encounters. "I think about how to generate awareness to take action regarding these issues in search of the world we want to live i...
5m Oct 09, 2022
5m
Gahanga market, Kigali
A tour of a small local market in Kigali: voices, birds, women laughing and making fun of (us) tourists, sewing machines making traditional clothes, some traffic on the background, spinach blenders, phones, music. Recorded by Maria Conterno. Part of the Well-Being Cities project, a unique collaboration between Cities and Memory and C40, a global network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading c...
7m Oct 09, 2022
7m
City garden ambience, Lima
Ambience recorded in a garden in a house in Lima (Inca Repac). When considering well-being in cities, it's important not just to head to the most culturally or historically significant areas to judge its health - you can learn just as much from listening to everyday street sounds. Recorded by David Menke. Part of the Well-Being Cities project, a unique collaboration between Cities and Memory ...
10m Oct 09, 2022
10m
Test sirens, Copenhagen
This recording is of the yearly test of the citywide emergency siren system reserved for major emergencies, times of war etc. This year it comes in the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown - which though easing greatly at this point - renders it oddly significant this year (2020). Recorded by Timothy John Hinman. Part of the Well-Being Cities project, a unique collaboration between Cities and Memor...
10m Oct 09, 2022
10m