Ahwa downtown coffee house, Alexandria
"Ahwa downtown coffee house is a coffee shop located in the heart of Alexandria, Egypt. It is a popular destination for coffee lovers, as well as for those who want to experience the lively atmosphere of downtown Alexandria. "Visitors can sit and enjoy their coffee while watching the hustle and bustle of the city's streets or take a stroll through the nearby market to immerse themselves in the...
11m Feb 14, 2023
11m
Qaitbay Citadel, Alexandria
"The Qaitbay Citadel is a medieval fortress located in Alexandria, Egypt, on the Mediterranean coast. It was built in the 15th century and served as a major military defense for the city, guarding the entrance to the harbor and protecting it from invading forces. "Visitors can explore the various buildings within the citadel, including the mosque, the barracks, and the towers, and learn about ...
10m Feb 14, 2023
10m
Zanket El Setat night market, Alexandria
"The Zanket El Setat night market is a night market in Alexandria, Egypt, where vendors and street food stalls come together to create a lively and bustling atmosphere. It is a popular destination for locals, who come to enjoy the food, shopping, and entertainment. "The variety of distinct sounds is vast, such as vendors calling out to attract customers, people bargaining for goods, the hum of...
6m Feb 14, 2023
6m
Al-Medina tram, Alexandria
"The Al-Medina Tram is a tram system in Alexandria, Egypt, and it makes several different sounds as it moves through the city. Some of the sounds you might hear include: The sound of the tram's wheels clacking on the tracks as it moves along. The sound of the tram's electric motors and gears as it accelerates and slows down. The sound of the tram's bells or horns as it approaches intersections...
7m Feb 14, 2023
7m
Beside the sea in Alexandria
"At the seaside, you can just roll solo as the tide splashes your ankles. The sound of waves is proven to relax the mind, as waves come in, crash, and then recede again, like a “trigger telling your brain you’re in the right place”. "Simply being near the ocean and engaging in fishing alongside some of the locals familiar with the waves of the Mediterranean can be so enjoyable and calming you ...
9m Feb 14, 2023
9m
Sunset in Alexandria
"The view of the sunset over the Mediterranean sea can be quite picturesque and the colours of the sunset can be quite vivid. "It is also worth noting that Alexandria has a long history and many historical landmarks, such as the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Montazah Palace, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which could make for a great backdrop for viewing the sunset. A strong religious atmosp...
4m Feb 14, 2023
4m
Newspaper printing press, Alexandria
"Today, a newspaper pressing print in Alexandria is a rare and unique kind of labour, representing a glimpse into the rich history of printing in Egypt and the city of Alexandria. "At a press print, you may hear the sound of the presses running and the sound of paper being fed through the machines. Depending on the type of press, you might hear the whirring of electric motors or the clanking o...
3m Feb 14, 2023
3m
Call to prayer, Alexandria
"The old town of Alexandria is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history and culture of this beautiful city and is a great place to experience the traditional way of life in Alexandria. "You can just stroll around the market in the streets of the old town, where rabbis, Muslim women in scarves, and pilgrim Christians live together. You can occasionally hear the sound of people praying ...
54s Feb 14, 2023
54s
The port of Alexandria
"The port is situated on the eastern coast of Egypt, along the Mediterranean Sea, and is known for its long history of maritime trade and commerce. Throughout the centuries, the port has served as a gateway for goods and people traveling between Europe, Asia, and Africa. "Overall, the Alexandria Port is a busy and lively place, and you can expect to hear a constant din of activity and movement...
1m Feb 14, 2023
1m
Metamorphoses Ovid-19
"In the original recording you hear the voices of a multitude of frogs croaking. My associations around frogs led me back to a term, that I first encountered in march 2020, around the time the first Covid-lockdown started: catastrophic metamorphosis. A catastrophic metamorphosis is the final transition from the last larval stage to the adult stage. This profound remodeling often takes place in ...
3m Feb 14, 2023
3m
BBC Radio 4 Today programme - Polar Sounds interview
Cities and Memory founder Stuart Fowkes is interviewed on BBC Radio 4's flagship news programme Today, discussing the Polar Sounds project and how it aims to bring a new perspective to the impact of climate change on polar habitats. Broadcast on 6 February 2023.
4m Feb 06, 2023
4m
Polar Sounds on BBC 6music
A news clip about the Polar Sounds project by Cities and Memory - presenter Mary Ann Hobbs talks about how it's nice to hear "seals covering Aphex Twin".
52s Feb 06, 2023
52s
L'immacolata
There's always something special about the sound of bells in a forest, somehow adding a magical aspect to both the forest air and the sound of the bells themselves just by being heard in the same context, the crisp forest air lit up by the chimes of the bell. For this composition, we've filled in the gaps with how we felt while making the original recording, with gratitude for the day and for ...
5m Jan 28, 2023
5m
Church bells in the forest
Cesuna, northern Italy: church bells ring in the forest just outside the entrance to a long pedestrian tunnel that is part of a footpath made from an old train track. The train track ran from Asiago to Rocchette and has now been converted into a walking trail. On this cold December day, there was the crunch of ice underfoot, and the bells rang atmospherically through the clean, crisp forest air...
2m Jan 28, 2023
2m
Sound for the king
“This piece was composed by attempting to build something physical and layered out of sound. The Ross seals’ calls sit high in the frequency range, which here is imagined to be towards the surface level of the Southern Ocean, with the seals swimming and whirling gracefully beneath the waves. "Beneath that is a construction made up of kick drums and many thick layers of drone and synthesiser, w...
10m Jan 24, 2023
10m
Thayù (Peace)
"The field recording (An Arctic Storm) gave the feeling of peace, lonesomeness and calm: An alchemy of emotions that (although poles apart) give a feeling of balance. "Without intending to change the recording too much that it lost its effect. I cut off unwanted frequencies, added reverb and delay and used it as a bed for my composition. "The composition; titled Thayù is an inspiration to sea...
4m Jan 19, 2023
4m
Hveðra
"In an effort to add to the bridge of science-art being made by this project I worked together with Art|Scientist Vivien Reichel to work with me on the concept for the piece and help me with my understanding of the workings of the arctic environment. "Our conceptual starting point was to never cut/take away from the original sample, but rather add to it. We as a species have taken away enough ...
5m Jan 19, 2023
5m
Stormy ocean
The sound of the stormy ocean can result in what sounds like white noise. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research 2022. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (https://hifmb.de/) (HIFMB) and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre...
2m Jan 19, 2023
2m
Odontecete clicks, recording 2
The clicking and whistle noises most likely belong to odontocete species. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research 2022. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (https://hifmb.de/) (HIFMB) and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre...
1m Jan 19, 2023
1m
Odontecete clicks, recording 1
The clicking and whistle noises most likely belong to odontocete species. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research 2022. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (https://hifmb.de/) (HIFMB) and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre...
1m Jan 19, 2023
1m
Unidentified Arctic sound, recording 3
Many sounds recorded cannot be identified by scientists. Often it is not even possible to tell if the sounds originate from animals or if these are abiotic. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research 2022. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiver...
1m Jan 19, 2023
1m
Polar electro-ice
"What would happen if in the practice of listening to the sounds of the Polar Circle we identified the climatic changes that this territory is going through? The sound piece POLAR ELECTRO-ICE  born from a reflection on the transformations that the Polar Circle undergoes through documentary and sound research. The sounds you will hear were taken from the Polar Sounds project and soundscapes in t...
8m Jan 19, 2023
8m
What lies beneath the ice is sacred
"My allocated sound for this project had the mysterious description of "Unidentified Artic Sound 3". Before setting down to work, I listened to the sound a number of times with my eyes closed, and I was immediately drawn to an eerie pitched resonance amongsts the relentless hiss, crackle and ice-white noise. I wondered what the source of this strange creaking resonance could be. Some of the des...
9m Jan 19, 2023
9m
Pulse and locate
"In hearing the delicate sounds of the odontocete in the recording, i started to wonder what a full conversation between these kin could sound like. The piece begins with the recording in its raw form and is transformed through the use of granular synthesis, resonators and many layered effects. I imagine this piece as a dialogue, a sub-aquatic flirtation between our kin. Thank you for tuning my...
7m Jan 19, 2023
7m
Odontocete
"I used reverbs and other effects on the original track. Than I try to listen to the sound frequency suggested by the process, as in a improv mood. I listened for a while playing with commands and when I found a connection I started to dream and fly. "This track describes a lucky encounter between man and odontocetes." Odontocete clicks reimagined by Raffaele Rebaudengo. Part of the Polar So...
4m Jan 19, 2023
4m
Translatlantilexic
"Between 79°00'00.7"N and 5°40'07.3"E an answering machine is drowning in the Greenland Sea. Down here, a toothed whale swims along and leaves a message – or a song? For who? What did it say? Up there, nobody knows a way how to make sense of that strange noise. A speaking whale? A whale-ish voice? Yet, up above the surface high the human world brawls in reply. A clicking, whistling, rattling wa...
4m Jan 19, 2023
4m
The island
"I manipulate the original recording with some granular synthesis and mix it with wind on trees from a place near my home called "the island", in the middle of a water dam. Even being far from the Arctic, I found similarities between this and the sound space (of) the island." Odontocete clicks reimagined by Luís Antero. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memo...
3m Jan 19, 2023
3m
The coast
"More than anything else, I wanted my composition to be transportive for the listener... in a similar way, but perhaps more so, than the original field recording was for me. So, with that in mind, I aimed to capture the sonic experience of "being on the coast"."  reimagined by Emmy Tither. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for...
3m Jan 19, 2023
3m
Sounding with the whales
"I listened for a long time to the field recording.  There is the haunting sounds of the Bowhead whales, buried deep within the ambient sounds surrounding them.  I was inspired by the melody and musical slides (or moans!) I could hear in the whale calls. The constant ambient sound of the environment, and perhaps of scientific equipment also, was a sonic companion within the field recording, and...
8m Jan 19, 2023
8m
Polynya (Arctic unidentified)
"In times of global warming, the risk of melting ice poses a multitude of threats from sea-level rise to reduced albedo. Large parts of the oldest ice have already disappeared, and what remains is found in one of the thickest and oldest areas of the Arctic known as the "Last Ice Area" — considered to be the last source of ice in a rapidly warming Arctic. The last Arctic ice is proving vulnerabl...
9m Jan 19, 2023
9m
Unidentified Arctic sound, recording 2
Many sounds recorded cannot be identified by scientists. Often it is not even possible to tell if the sounds originate from animals or if these are abiotic. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research 2022. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiver...
2m Jan 19, 2023
2m
Unidentified Arctic sound, recording 1
Many sounds recorded cannot be identified by scientists. Often it is not even possible to tell if the sounds originate from animals or if these are abiotic. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research 2022. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiver...
2m Jan 19, 2023
2m
Ringed seal (Pusa hispida)
The behavioral context of ringed seal calls has not been confirmed; however, on the basis of their presence in winter and spring, Stirling et al. (1983) hypothesized that the calls are involved in intraspecific competition to maintain social structure around breathing holes in the sea ice and that they may also serve a reproductive purpose. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute,...
45s Jan 19, 2023
45s
Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)
Bearded seals produce typical downsweept trills underneath the Arctic sea ice. Calls are produced by males in spring to defend underwater territories. Specific trajectories and areas are patrolled by males under the ice while producing these acoustic displays. Calls are thought to attract potential mates and repel potential rival males. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute, Hel...
2m Jan 19, 2023
2m
Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), recording 2
The tonal sounds are produced by bowhead whales. Males produce song to attract females and vocally compete with potential rival males. Recording credit: CC-BY 4.0 Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research 2022. Part of the Polar Sounds project, a collaboration between Cities and Memory, the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (https://hifmb.de...
2m Jan 19, 2023
2m
Balaena mysticetus
"Bowhead whales are magnificent creatures that can grow to 60ft long and can live to around 200 years.  They are predominantly solitary creatures or found in small pods of up to six.  These aspects of age, solitude and memory (they were commercially whaled up until the 1960s) have inspired my submission. "I've created a chord progression and used layered orchestral sounds with a fairly sparse ...
6m Jan 19, 2023
6m
Meditation on Erignathus
"There was something melancholy about the descending trill and the moan from these bearded seals that I wanted to capture and elaborate on. But there was also a distance to the seal sounds so I knew I wanted to keep the composition simple and subtle and not overpower their sounds. I used the original file in two different ways. "On one track I extended the time, stretching out the sounds while...
4m Jan 19, 2023
4m
Entrelinhas
"What is it like to sing under the ice? This question was inspired by the image of the bearded seal’s glissandi that came to mind and was the guiding line for the composition. The meaning of Entrelinhas (betweenness; between the lines) goes deep into the idea of living between places; of suffering interference from machines and naturals, struggling against them and sometimes incorporating them....
10m Jan 19, 2023
10m
Social structure
"I tried to use slight manipulation on the sample. On the one hand, these manipulations symbolize our influence on the climate of the planet, Original sound is manipulated artificially with resonators, no any other instrument was used. on the other hand, with these manipulations, I wanted to create a  cold and harsh atmosphere that is under the Arctic ice, where ringed seals are living and buil...
10m Jan 19, 2023
10m
Reflections on the seals
"This miniature piece evokes an imaginary Antarctic soundscape inspired by the marvelous ringed seals. Some reflections in a poem form emerge as a prelude to a question that pretends to make consciousness about the climate warming effects. The contrast in the second section ends with a glimpse of hope to revert part of the damage done to our home, Mother Earth. There is no more future if we don...
3m Jan 19, 2023
3m
Surface feeling
"The idea is that sounds make up the texture of a landscape. Because this field recording was labeled as an unidentified sound, my impression of it was more about the whole soundscape, as opposed to whatever animal was breathing or barking or scraping. The feeling of the noise became the focus. I included digging sound effects and home field recordings of rocks and sticks and other objects, pro...
6m Jan 19, 2023
6m
Navigate under the ice floe
"My inspiration was to create the sensation you navigate under a big ice floe. At first just moving under the water  you pass through the ice floe and sometimes ice collapses and crashes. I used only field recording sound with some audio process to create the sensation. ice, underwater movement etc. So basically I recorded some different foley texture and try to pre-design different elements I ...
6m Jan 19, 2023
6m
Unknown Arctic dreams
"When I listened to this polar recording, I felt goosebumps - it is so mysterious but very beautiful and magical at the same time. Sounds that never came to my ear before. "Then I decided to elaborate on this Arctic soundscape with delicate sine waves, reverse guitar, Javanese Gong, and synthesizer pads to create a dreamy atmosphere. I composed mainly concentrating on the sound's spectrum, to ...
5m Jan 19, 2023
5m
Balaena
"I was mesmerized by this field recording. The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is the only surviving member of the genus Balaena. The song is inspired by my own encounter with a bowhead whale in the coastal Alaskan Arctic. I was on station in an ice field in September 2018, to do some field research. I remember seeing some object in the water and pointing it out to my colleagues. We decided ...
5m Jan 17, 2023
5m
Mystic whale love
"My collaborator Hansine and I were surprised by the expressiveness of the Bowhead Whale call and how the spacing between the calls seemed to be awaiting a response. Our idea initially was to have a conversation with the whale, with Hansine's vocals personifying a responding whale. "We were recording alone in a cabin in the hills of Santa Cruz with just ourselves, a bass, a drum machine, and t...
3m Jan 17, 2023
3m
Glow in the dark
"My field recording is a two-minute recording of airshots that occur at regular intervals of about 12 seconds. This regularity is only noticeable in the course of time, and then seems a bit like a ticking clock running down in super slow-motion. The deep bass of the explosions lingers for a relatively long time, and can still be heard well during the following crackling and hissing. It is a dar...
6m Jan 17, 2023
6m
Ghost nets
"Simon Holmes: The start of the project revolved around the sample itself and the pulsating rhythm of the seismic shooting. I wanted to manipulate the sample to create other sounds representative of the natural rather than the human underwater world, aware of how man has generated such destructive sound pollution in the Arctic environment. Firstly I was interested in evoking ideas of sonar and ...
6m Jan 17, 2023
6m
Under threat
"The soundscape I composed tries to reflect and highlight the clear threat associated with the exploration and exploitation of natural resources (oil and gas), in areas of high biological diversity and with a strong presence of indigenous communities. "First, I investigated the resistance of Greenlandic Innuit communities to the exploration work near the site where the sound sample was recorde...
9m Jan 17, 2023
9m
First contact
"The sound I chose to work with was the Airgun pulse that is used to explore the ocean bed for oil and gas. As soon as I heard the clip, it sounded to me eerily like bombs going off. Wondering what impact this had for the acoustic soundscapes of the Arctic (where the clips were recorded), I then did some reading around the topic and although research is still it’s in its early days, it is sugge...
3m Jan 17, 2023
3m
The sea unicorn
"As I became familiar with the scientific recording, I experimented with ways to to coax out its particular elements. My relationship to the sounds became more playful as this process evolved. When I isolated, filtered, spliced, reorganised and recombined them I considered how they might coexist with my own sounds - in particular those from my ongoing solo saxophone recording project. "In this...
4m Jan 17, 2023
4m