Musical decontamination march, Buenos Aires
The audio corresponds to the 1st Musical Decontamination March (first of a series of three protests carried out to demand controls on emission of pollutants to the Bahía Blanca Petrochemical Complex). The right to protest is another key aspect of a city that demonstrates and offers well-being to its citizens. This recording is from the C40 Summit's 2022 host city, Buenos Aires. Recorded by H....
1m Oct 06, 2022
1m
Waiting in Jomo Kenyatta, Nairobi
Departures at Jomo Kenyatta airport, Nairobi, Kenya - you can hear among the normal sounds of bustle and shopping in the terminal the crackle of the security guards' radios and the feedback as they stand too close together. Sometimes the sound of a city's airport can tell you as much about that place as a recording from its historic city centre. Recorded by Giulia Biasibetti. Part of the Wel...
2m Oct 06, 2022
2m
Mile Pop Jordanov street, Skopje
A simple recording of my street, rеpresenting the contrast of the sound over several minutes. 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 Toni Dimitrov. Part of the Well-Being Cities project, a unique collabo...
4m Oct 06, 2022
4m
Harmonic warmth
"The original recording inspired me by being sorta a current day protest song.. during Covid when people couldn't really gather banging pots and pans from our respective homes was a way for us to connect and express frustration. "I find a lot of similarities between Brazilian and American politics and I wanted to find a way to illustrate those connections as well as articulate what a sustainab...
5m Oct 06, 2022
5m
Fora Bolsonaro!
This is a short recording of a pot-banging protest in the Catete neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. When people cannot go on the streets to protest, they bang pots to show their displeasure with the government. In this case, the protest was a general protest against the president of Brazil, Bolsonaro. Pot-banging is a relatively easy form of protest: it makes lots of noise, does not require peop...
6m Oct 06, 2022
6m
Noise2Noise
Colombian protest reimagined by Wijnand Bredewold. "Once there was nothing, maybe just white noise, a random signal of equal intensity at different frequencies. Due to the origin of the earth, nature, animals and people, variations in this white noise arose, there was no overcrowding or disturbance, it was in harmony with each other. "Due to the increase in the world population and the urban ...
9m Oct 05, 2022
9m
Manifestants' Parade, Bogotá
We can hear chanting protesters from Bogotá, Colombia, on November 26th 2019, less than a week after protests started. I was in Bogotá for a residency and it just happened that I arrived at a very agitated moment in the city, with people denouncing corruption and demanding better quality of life. It was beautiful to see them out in the street in solidarity, protesting in a very civil manner for...
5m Oct 05, 2022
5m
Kaoss on the Elizabeth Line
Elizabeth Line opening day reimagined by Simon Woods. "The 'Kaoss' of the title refers, not to any chaos that may or may not have occurred on the opening day of the Elizabeth Line, but to the use of Korg Kaoscillator and Kaoss Pad in the composition. All the percussion is made from sounds of the doors closing or other bangs and crashes on the journey. The two chords are from the tone of the tr...
3m Sep 21, 2022
3m
The first day of the Elizabeth Line, London
The first new full London Underground line since 1979 opened on 24 May 2022, in honour of the (recently-passed) Queen Elizabeth II. We jumped on board the line on its very first day to record the sounds of a journey from Farringdon to Paddington. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
12m Sep 21, 2022
12m
Dreaming with cicadas
"Following some other samples I recording around the mountain, I try to image a scene when cicadas start dreaming." Composition by Ryan Chiang.
3m Sep 11, 2022
3m
Jewel Mountain's day and night
"This recording is about a day living in Jewel Mountain: a small city mountain joust located in Hangzhou, China. I met a cat in the night and cicadas remain happily during the night. The next morning I just walked around the mountain and cicadas were  still happily and loudly singing, and I was just wondering how they perceived day and night compared to humans." Recorded by Ryan Chiang.
1m Sep 11, 2022
1m
Sound of Old Anarkali
"Old Anarkali has been a bustling market in the city of Lahore for at least 200 years. Owing to its rich history, the market still holds much of the historic architecture at its backside while the front has been modernised, catering to the commercial needs. These buildings are mostly residential and while their material condition is in decay, the intangible environment has a strong 'sense of th...
1m Sep 11, 2022
1m
Collison of old and new sounds in Anarkali
This recording is a sample of multiple recordings made at 14 different spots in Rasala Bazar, Old Anarkali. It is an amalgamation of a constant sound of an electric motor and a continuous chirping of a bird- symbolic of how the existing and growing neglect of historic neighbourhood in affecting the habitats of birds that seek shelters in 'jharokas' of the pre-independence buildings (1947). Rec...
17s Sep 11, 2022
17s
The watchmaker's dream
"The watchmaker falls asleep in his studio on a cold winter's night, work hard to come by in this digital age as he wonders how he will pay his incoming bills. As he falls asleep, like a classic Brothers Grimm story, he dreams that tiny elfin helpers appear from the corners of the shop and finish his work for him, working feverishly with magical hands until daybreak. The piece winds down from i...
1m Aug 29, 2022
1m
Winding up a pocket watch
Pocket watches once were in common use. Every self-repectfing man should have one. To work properly, they had to be winded up everyday. Its ticking and winding up were the sounds everyone were familiar with. Nowadays it's a rare thing to find a pocket watch with a winding mechanism and its sounds are hardly familiar to younger generations. Recording provided by Artur Kinal. This is part of th...
7m Aug 29, 2022
7m
Cambodiaint
"On hearing the recording, it immediately sounded like techno to me, so I put a kick drum and hi-hat on it. I tried to work fast and instinctively, pushed by the drive of the recording. The overall sound was also inspired by a recent mix I did for FatCat records, which in turn took me back to my days DJing in Brighton and London around the turn of the millennium, when noise, techno, academic re...
4m Aug 29, 2022
4m
Trip-in guts
"Im not sure if it counts as a source of inspiration or narrative, or at least maybe not one that comes voluntarily but unconsciously, nevertheless I made this track while I was ill with a stomach infection. "Technically, in this piece I began by extracting the different musical elements of the music in a frequency basis with Rip X, an A.I. software normally used by DJs to extract STEMS (the d...
4m Aug 29, 2022
4m
Helsinki tram ride
"The entire piece, representing a rattling journey on an old tram, is made up of sounds from the original field recording. These sounds have been cut, reversed, sampled, “wavetabled”, delayed, distorted, glitched and so many other horrendous tortures!" Composition by Simon Woods. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that...
4m Aug 29, 2022
4m
Shelter
The original recording of an air raid siren is heard augmented by chordal piano impulse responses to create harmonic layerings. A bass synth tone was added improvisationally, matching tones present in the processed siren sounds. Composition by Matt Rogalsky. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct –...
3m Aug 29, 2022
3m
World domination
"I had a sound file based on a recording of racing cars which got recorded in the years between 1920 and 1940. My first thoughts after hearing the recording: technology, cars, men, masculinity, competition, air pollution, the importance for and the following success of the automobile for our capitalistic society. The car (as well as the racing event) as a main motive for capitalism and a show o...
5m Aug 29, 2022
5m
Tachometer, my dear!
"This project uses just two sound sources: chiefly the one offered by Cities and Memory, a recording of a 1971 Triumph TR6 engine by lonskwad2020 @ https://freesound.org/s/435212/. To supplement this there is also a single chord hit and a drum loop taken from 'AU Profiles – Frank Jenkins – Another Case History and a Glance at Auburn University's Vocational Rehabilitation Curriculum' https://arc...
4m Aug 29, 2022
4m
Steam train ride
"As the steam locomotive approached at 145 bpm, fulled by burning combustible materials to heat water to the point it becomes gaseous, the conductor and crew sounded the whistle as a long-distance warning. I processed the original “Steam Train Ride” field-recording using a pedal made in Knoxville TN called the Microcosm, delaying the whistle to closer resemble the sound of an impending death. I...
3m Aug 29, 2022
3m
Haunted steam
"Haunted Steam is an imaginary concert featuring the sounds of a Heigh hoo vintage steam train (recorded at a distance), a 1912 steam locomotive field recording, two tubas, flutes, chimes and piano. The locomotive recording provided the entire musical material for the work—melodies were drawn from the overtones in the original sample, wind instruments were selected to phase in and out of the tr...
12m Aug 29, 2022
12m
Cash two
"My composition emerged out of a an old cash register. A cash register reminds me of old butchers you went to. One always put some coins underneath where you can discover it as a child and keep it. To somehow old cash registers you see today and still some of the very very old ones. It inspired me to a kind of emptiness. I did never work with a sound which is lost in time. And then especially a...
4m Aug 29, 2022
4m
Khmer music
Khmer music. Traditional music from Cambodia, recorded in Phnom Penh in October 2008, with a Boss Micro BR. Recording provided by Kevin Luce via Freesound. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://c...
2m Aug 29, 2022
2m
Traditional Moroccan music
This recording has been made during a trip in south Morocco. A band was performing some traditional Moroccan music from Sahara, for a group of tourists. You can hear drums (including qraqeb), a string instrument (a guembri, I guess), and men singing. Kindly recorded in September 2015 by Laurence Luce, with a Yamaha pocketrak C24. Fade in/out applied in Audacity. Recording provided by Kevin Lu...
4m Aug 29, 2022
4m
Helsinki Tram No6. Next stop: antiquity
The trams are a distinctive element to the commuter life in Helsinki. The city is continuously upgrading the tram network, and replacing older, noisier trams with newer 'silent' versions. The rumbles, whistles, groans and creaks of this No6 tram will soon become obsolete. This recording captures the 'soon to be extinct' tram ambience. I love the dynamics and sonic space inside these trams earl...
10m Aug 29, 2022
10m
Air raid siren test
Shortened air raid siren test in Prague. Recorded with Zoom f8 + Sennheiser MKH416. Recording provided by nooly via Freesound. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://citiesandmemory.com/obsolete-s...
1m Aug 29, 2022
1m
Vintage racing cars
Famous Nürburgring Nordschleife, cars from 1925- 1940. Recording provided by jungh001 via Freesound. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://citiesandmemory.com/obsolete-sounds
24s Aug 29, 2022
24s
1971 Triumph Tr6 engine
This is a recording of a lovely old British automobile. It includes door opening/closing sounds and some unfortunate handling noise. Recording provided by lonskwad2020 via Freesound. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the...
3m Aug 29, 2022
3m
Steam train ride
We went to a trip with school to Wales. This included a ride on a steam train. Obviously I recorded. Having the microphones out of the window I captured a weird image of a train and its constant sounds. Recorded with Sound Professionals MS-BMC3 binaural microphones with Zoom H1 Recorder. Recording provided by jrosin via Freesound. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s bigg...
5m Aug 29, 2022
5m
Steam train whistle
One of the remaining steam locomotives whistles in the distance. MKH20 and FR-2. Recording provided by Heigh-hoo via Freesound. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://citiesandmemory.com/obsolete-...
27s Aug 29, 2022
27s
Old cash register
Vintage cash register, with crank, bell and till opens. Recording provided by Tompalompa via Freesound. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://citiesandmemory.com/obsolete-sounds
18s Aug 29, 2022
18s
Inner workings
"On listening to the recording of the music box and reading about the sentimentality behind it and implied happy memories it occurred to me that the music of life is only produced by a lot of underlying effort and the mechanics to create it.  I therefore concentrated on the winding sounds and noises produced by the mechanism itself.  These were slowed down, reversed and manipulated using plugin...
10m Aug 29, 2022
10m
Don't mention the past
"I listened to the original recording as raw material. Back then, seeking new audio experiences, we could turn a physical dial to tune in and out of different stations. The wonder that was Amplitude Modulation, split into Long and Short wave brought us exotic possibilities -  Luxembourg, Hilversum, Budapest, AFN, many more, many sorts. Static - bleeps, whistles, voice shards and fizzing hiss an...
3m Aug 29, 2022
3m
ჭѶЯΞ
"I grew up in a house without electricity, so the sound of striking matches remains very familiar to my ears; they were an essential item to ignite candles and lamps and stoves. I also began the Void Sigil project intending to eschew culturally-specific elements in music, and creating fire with matches seemed to be an appropriate cultural universal. "I began my composition by isolating individ...
6m Aug 29, 2022
6m
Type n (after Tárrega)
"Inspired by the narrow parameters of earlier monophonic ringtones I wanted to reimagine the recording using only itself. But the idea of a mobile is that it's mobile of course so for that, and to situate the ringtone in now-time, I put it on my phone and took it out into my locality, recorded it ringing and used sounds from that as well. The manipulated impulses of countless calls haunt digita...
3m Aug 29, 2022
3m
Vintage music box
This music box was an anniversary present to my grandmother and has been in the family for years. It looks like a miniature piano. It still works perfectly. Here I wind up the mechanism and then let it play until it stops on its own. Towards the end of the recording it gets so slow that you can hear each individual note. Key of E major. Recording provided by f-r-a-g-i-l-e via Freesound. This ...
5m Aug 29, 2022
5m
Tuning an analogue radio
This is the sound of tuning an analog radio. This sound is obsolete because now there are digital radios. Recording provided by Ed Visoso. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://citiesandmemory.c...
1m Aug 29, 2022
1m
Lighting matches
The sound of lighting matches. This sound is disappearing because now everybody uses lighters. Recording provided by Ed Visoso. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://citiesandmemory.com/obsolete...
1m Aug 29, 2022
1m
Nokia 5120 ringtone
Nokia 5120 ring. This sound has disappeared because these telephones don't work anymore. Recording provided by Ed Visoso. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://citiesandmemory.com/obsolete-sounds
20s Aug 29, 2022
20s
I am the greatest woman in the world
"The sound represents the end event in a galactic contest of wills between extraordinary combatants.  The listener is invited to imagine themselves having just lost in a crushing defeat.  What if it was your face in the dirt?  What if you were not certain of the severity of your injuries at the same time you were beginning to lose consciousness? "This piece is dedicated to the memory of Dr. JK...
17m Aug 29, 2022
17m
Every choice matters
"The slowed down sound of a melting glacier ice underpins this track and tries to portray the chaos in the world as the climate gets hotter." Composition by Karhide. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at...
4m Aug 29, 2022
4m
The pulse and the overtone
"When I first heard this recording two things struck me - first was the pulse and the second was the overtone rich timbre. I set about cutting loops which I then filtered and applied some light touches of reverb and 8 band EQ and began lining up the loops so as to produce a pulsing relationship between multiple stacked loops. Then I took apart the partials in order to produce longer tones which...
15m Aug 29, 2022
15m
Little machines
"My grandmother used to have an old sewing machine. The ones that were like this kind of wooden furniture. When I was a child I used to play with it without having any relevant knowledge. When my grandmother was working on that machine, the sound used to fill up the old house and was massive to my ears back then. It was so interesting the fact that when you listened to the machine from the room...
8m Aug 29, 2022
8m
Telephone
"I distinctly remember using an old dial phone as a child. Its solid ergonomics. The grime that would stick in the recesses of the mouth piece. Unscrewing the mic and speaker caps. Learning how to call numbers without using the dial by tapping patterns on the switch hook. The cold draughty corridors and call boxes where I'd phone friends. Number number numbers. "The old clicking dial phones si...
11m Aug 29, 2022
11m
Coffee with Pablo
"When I listened to the sound  I remembered an encounter I had with the musician and great friend Pabs C. Ursusson who I had met at a music course near Leipzig. After the course I visited him at his flat which was above a bookbinders he made coffee in an old Moka Pot on a gas hob and we drank , laughed shared food and great tunes. "It was a remarkable encounter and magic in many ways. One of t...
1m Aug 29, 2022
1m
Call me back
"My sound art piece "Call me Back" was built solely and exclusively from the provided sound (turning on an old nokia 5120 and dialing). "This obsolete sound inspired me to build a journey back in time to a period in history where the coverage of mobile networks operators was still relatively weak. I've used a multi-track audio editor to transform/edit the original sound in a way that I could t...
8m Aug 29, 2022
8m
Ice world death
"I took the original recording and time stretched it way out. Then I mapped those notes to MIDI. Using recently-recorded Arctic ice samples, I recreated this slower version. I liked the groove in the middle so much that I repeated it a few times. Everything the listener hears is an Arctic ice sound sample, albeit heavily manipulated. In this way, the ice is able to sing its death song. Meanwhil...
1m Aug 29, 2022
1m
Super Mario death
Mario's death sound from Super Mario Bros on the NES. Recording provided by The Sounds Resource. This is part of the Obsolete Sounds project, the world’s biggest collection of disappearing sounds and sounds that have become extinct – remixed and reimagined to create a brand new form of listening. Explore the whole project at https://citiesandmemory.com/obsolete-sounds
5s Aug 29, 2022
5s