The Lech and the Danube
We followed the Lech for its entire length, watching it change through different phases. Here we witness its latest step, as it joins the Danube in its long trip across ten countries until it reaches the Black Sea. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the Universi...
1m May 06
1m
The river Lech in Augsburg
The city of Augsburg is crossed by 29 canals, which contributed to its textile industry in the 19th century. Now its lively city centre combines stunning architecture and modern lifestyle. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the Unive...
3m May 06
3m
Rain on the river Lech
The river runs its last few kilometres, going through a stretch of forest and one more dam. This sound is the river Lech's quiet goodbye. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the University of Würzburg, with support from Cities and Mem...
2m May 06
2m
Mandichosee
Reservoirs are artificial: they only exist because there's a dam to control the flow of the river. But most of them turn out to be hosting pristine nature, especially this one, which can be only reached by foot Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University o...
2m May 06
2m
Litzauer Schleife
After driving along a dirt road marked by a "verboten" sign - thanks Google Maps! - we reach the last true natural part of the river Lech, before it gets tamed in the more densely populated stretch preceding the Danube. From up here the view is stunning, few sun rays pierce the clouds over a meander that looks like it's never changed for hundred of years. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. -----...
4m May 06
4m
Epfach
 | We stopped in Epfach for lunch, and visited one of the many fish passages built around dams. It's noon, and the nearby church chimes to perfectly recreate the atmosphere of this charming village Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and ...
4m May 06
4m
Landsberg
Our arrival in Landsberg is met with four enormous steps over which the Lech flows, so loud and powerful my microphone could not handle it. I decide to record the lively sounds of a cafe in the Altstadt. Luckily, the bells start ringing, even though I wasn't expecting the kind of concert I was in for. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of...
2m May 06
2m
Lech old power station
As we leave the city of Augsburg, the river can take its space again, inviting people on its banks to enjoy some leisure time. Here the river snakes between alternating gravel banks, and a family plays with pebbles. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the Univers...
2m May 06
2m
Stadtwald Augsburg
The Augsburg Stadtpark is an enormous green area just south of the city of Augsburg. The calm waters of the canals criss-crossing the park are accompanied by the sound of families enjoying the Sunday afternoon at the park, while exotic animals from the nearby zoo make the atmosphere slightly surreal. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of ...
5m May 06
5m
Scheuring
The fish passage on this dam isn't particularly spectacular, it's a channel carved into the concrete under the road, but I found it particularly symbolic. The water is lapping peacefully, only the echo hints at the artificial nature of this structure, built to recreate conditions as natural as possible for the fish. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telli...
1m May 06
1m
Forggensee
 | Of the many reservoirs along the Lech, Forggensee is the largest. In summer it can get very busy, and the cruise boats are a controversial topic. When we visited, the holiday villages around its shores were deserted and a serene atmosphere dominated the area. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The...
3m May 06
3m
Dornstetten
During our trip along the Lech we stopped, I believe, at every Wasserkraftwerk along the way. Each of them had something particular, either to the eye or to the ear. This sound of water could be a little mountain waterfall, but the humming of the power station in the background is telling us otherwise. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story o...
2m May 06
2m
Hohenfurch
Hiding between dense forest, in a narrow stretch of valley, we find a reservoir that looked like a secret, secluded place. One man unmoors his boat and rows away, barely rippling the tranquil waters, while birds sing all around us and a couple of swans loudly announce their take off. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through t...
4m May 06
4m
Geigenbauer
Füssen, a beautiful town nestled along the Lech, is famous for its proximity to the Neuschweinstein castle. What most of the tourists don't know is that it's also famous for its Geigenbauer, the violin makers. One of them, Gabriel Reinhold, was kind enough to invite us into his workshop and showed us how a slate of wood becomes a violin. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a crea...
1m May 06
1m
Staumauer Lech
Of the many hydropower stations we found along the way this is the most impressive. Behind the enormous building towering over the Lech waters, a Y-shaped pipe collects and funnels the water used to generate electricity. The power of the water running under our feet, as the sound suggests, is terrifying. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story...
1m May 06
1m
Forest Experience Centre Ziegelwies
 | On the border between Austria and Germany, a forest centre dominates the riverine landscape with its treetop walk. With this recording we're walking along the wooden trail. It's the weekend, so families are enjoying their time here. The sound at the end is the walking stick of a visually impaired visitor. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the s...
2m May 06
2m
Stanzach
Here the Lech creates stunning heart-shapes, only visible from high up. This is called string of pearls, and here the river takes its space and its time, slowing down. The sound is taken where the river bed is at its largest, and the water caresses the vegetation around it. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power o...
4m May 06
4m
Hoefen
While the first part of the river has been mostly pastoral, further down its course the water is also used for heavy industry, and this is the first we come across on our path from the source towards the Danube. It's noon, the factory siren and the church bells are beckoning workers to go home for lunch. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story...
3m May 06
3m
Forchach hanging bridge
The hanging bridge is a stunning construction overarching the string of pearls. People love walking across it, and cycling too (even if it's forbidden), and their passage makes the steel cables vibrate and sound like the strings of a giant instrument. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is...
3m May 06
3m
Nikolausbruecke
Wooden bridges are a common sight in this area, where the river is still narrow enough for this type of structure. Over this one a conspiracy of ravens is interacting with some smaller, but no less fierce, birds. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University...
3m May 06
3m
Ulrichsbruecke
 | Looking for Ulrichsbrücke we got lost and ended up in an enormous, sci-fi looking gravel factory. This is where the gravel dug up from the river bed is processed and mostly used for construction. I walk along the river banks, and by now the gravel I treaded might be a road, or a building. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river t...
1m May 06
1m
Wasserkraftwerk Hoefen
As the mountains start to give way to the plains, the human impact gets more visible. The river goes through several Wasserkraftwerk - hydropower stations - that create reservoirs where birds find their home in a stark contrast (or cohabitation?) between artificial structures and nature. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river throu...
14m May 06
14m
Dumau
Without any tourists in sight, water and birds are all you can hear in the valley where the Lech gradually grows from a mountain stream to a large river. A tractor intruded into my bucolic recording, but it's a realistic representation of the strong agricultural nature of this area. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through th...
3m May 06
3m
Naturpark Tiroler Lech
 | As we move down the Lech valley, the river grows, collecting water from the streams it finds along its way. Under this specific bridge the water changed its tone, growing a darker timbre. Recorded by Riccardo Fumagalli. ------- Flow is a creative exploration telling the story of a river through the power of sound. The project is a collaboration between the University of Padova and the Uni...
1m May 06
1m
Warth
The first section of the Lech is as close as possible to the idea of an alpine paradise: ice-cold waters running through bright green meadows and dark pines, and people wearing dirndl and lederhosen walking through the quiet, sleepy towns. But the silence was deceptive. October, when we visited, felt like a moment of repose between the busy summer season and the even busier winter season. The c...
2m May 06
2m
Life glitches
Cities and Memory: "Through the golden evening sunshine, this local market closing down for the evening was tinged with a certain feeling of sweet melancholy, as another day winds down. Using the chimes of the bells as a rhythmic centre, locked in time with a piano part, I created this piece to evoke the mood I felt while making the recording. "And yet in the spacious ambience left between the...
6m May 06
6m
Oldenburg market in the golden hour
The local market in Oldenburg, Germany closing down for the day at 6pm on a golden, sunny evening. with stalls closing up and the chatter of stallholders and locals. During the recording, the Lambertikirche bells chime the hour. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
4m May 06
4m
Birds sing on a summer evening in Yakutsk
I recorded this sound on the balcony at home. At the very beginning you can hear the sound of my cat named “Count”. The sky was lit up by sunset, very warm and pleasant. Recorded in Yakutask, Russia by Marina Dragan.
3m May 04
3m
June drizzle at dawn: a chorus of woodpecker drumming
This recording captures a rare early-morning moment on Mt. Nokogiri in June, where multiple Grey-headed woodpeckers drum simultaneously, their distinct rhythms responding to one another and forming an emergent chorus across the forested slopes. The mountain’s steep rock faces, softened by light drizzle and humid dawn air, shape the sound through natural reverberation, revealing how weather and...
10m May 04
10m
Bird in the soup
"Yakutsk looks like it's in the middle of nowhere so I wanted the piece to reflect a journey there. I also wanted the original recording to feel like it was a subtle part of the piece without taking over." Birdsong in Yakutask reimagined by Richard Watts.
4m May 04
4m
Chiba
"The recording inspired me by setting me into a more landscape and nature sort of environment. But also being from a place which is a big city, I used synthesizers to make the second part of the track. "There's also filter and sequencing of the birds song in the last part, to make it even more unnatural, before going back to the nature landscape again." Birdsong in Chiba, Japan reimagined by ...
3m May 04
3m
A magnified moment of attention
As one of the world's most famous sacred spaces, Notre Dame in Paris has a very particular effect even on the non-religious, perhaps close to Stendhal Syndrome. But it's not just about the space itself, it's about sharing that awe with thousands of other people concurrently, as an endless snaking line of people enters the space, each to have their own significant experience, whether it's of sec...
14m Apr 29
14m
Notre Dambient
A full walkthrough of the restored Notre Dame, with the drone of thousands of tourists, the clattering of machines dispensing memorial coin tokens, and the unexpected "shhhhh!" announcements calling everyone to keep quiet in this space that is both sacred, and one of the most popular tourist spots in the world. Recorded in Paris, France in February 2026 by Cities and Memory.
17m Apr 29
17m
Earth Horns with Electric Drone
"Earth Horns with Electric Drone" (1974), a piece by Yoshi Wada, recorded at the Minimalism exhibition at the Bourse du Commerce, Paris in December 2025. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
5m Apr 29
5m
Untold story of the drone
"'Untold Story of the Drone' is my reimagined sound of Yoshi Wada’s piece Earth Horns with Electric Drone. The original sound was recorded at the Minimalism exhibition at the Bourse du Commerce, Paris in December 2025 "My piece is built entirely using granular synthesis. This means that every sound, rhythm, and musical phrase you hear is derived exclusively from micro-samples of the original r...
6m Apr 29
6m
Train car, Auschwitz Birkenau
Ambisonics recording at a freight train car in Auschwitz used to deport people to the extermination camp. This soundscape-composition is part of the HEYR project, presenting 3-dimensional soundscapes from special locations, connected to special events.  Find out more by visiting https://www.heyr.no Recorded at Auschwitz, Poland by Anders Vinjar.
8m Apr 29
8m
Desespectral A.
"The location where the recording I worked with was made, carries an overwhelmingly historical weight. "Attempting something evocative, reminiscent, or symbolic felt pointless. Inappropiate. "However, I know that sound can hold historical information encrypted within it. "As in archaeological work, where stones can provide information about the past, field recordings may contain molecules or...
12m Apr 29
12m
Da'ira
"I worked on just one device just sampling and looping for this project, a sort of going back to basics. Da'ira means circle, orbit, or wholeness / unity in Arabic. In terms of timbre, wanted to reimagine the powerful hypnotic and melancholic quality of the call to prayer, something fundamental. This is one of a few recordings I made for this project, the rest are here: https://dtyb.bandcamp.co...
10m Apr 24
10m
Isha call to prayer, Jemaa el-Fnaa
Isha call to prayer at 8pm on a windy, rainy evening in the famous, busy Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Recorded in Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2026 by Cities and Memory.
3m Apr 24
3m
El Cabanyal
"No matter where in the world you are by the sea, the language of water is on the one hand the same everywhere, and on the other hand has a clear regional accent.I often work with the sound of water and waves in my music. "And since I hadn't been to Spain before, it was very appealing to undertake this journey acoustically, based solely on Tomasz Buga's field recording of the Plaja d´El Cabany...
10m Apr 22
10m
Mediterranean Sea at the Platja del Cabanyal
I arrived in Valencia one day before the conference I was attending, so I decided to record some calming sounds of the sea, waves and the general beach and chill atmosphere. Recorded in Valencia, Spain by Tomasz Buga.
10m Apr 22
10m
Practice
"The idea was to create a piece that worked with the violin so I started by isolating the tonal layer in Spectral Layers. This gave me multiple layers from the original recording so I could work out a key and tempo to build the track around. I then created a slow ambient track with a minimal beat that grounds the drifting violin." Violin at La Fenice reimagined by Karhide.
4m Apr 22
4m
Violin practice inside La Fenice
Inside the world-famous La Fenice theatre in Venice, we visit the opulent, breathtaking main auditorium, when a single violinist comes onto the stage, and begins to tune up and practice ahead of the New Year's Day (Capodanno) concert, which is broadcast on national TV in Italy traditionally every year. A rare chance to hear some intimate, small music on a very grand stage. Recorded on 29 Decem...
3m Apr 22
3m
Huge lock gates discharging water
Huge lock gates in Bremerhaven, Germany discharge large volumes of water, then slowly decrease in intensity until the flow ends and becomes a more gentle dripping. Recorded by Cities and Memory.
2m Apr 20
2m
Departures and arrivals: a commute to CDG
This recording captures the vibrant atmosphere of a bustling RER B train ride in Paris, bound for Charles de Gaulle airport. The train is filled with a diverse mix of passengers, each with their own story to tell. Some are weary travellers, returning home after a holiday in the City of Light, while others are Parisians embarking on their own adventures. Amidst the crowd, locals commute to work...
16m Apr 20
16m
Aboard the tram to Jernbanetorget
The tram ride in Oslo, Norway from Kontraskjaeret to Jernbanetorget outside the main station, with beeps, doors opening and closing, track sounds and announcements. Recorded in September 2025 by Cities and Memory.
6m Apr 20
6m
Markfield beam engine
The sounds of a working steam-powered Victorian beam engine, recorded during one of its open-to-the-public steaming days. It’s located in the grounds of the former Tottenham Sewage Works, now a community park. The rotary beam engine was built in 1888, and features a 27-foot flywheel and 21-foot beam. It drove two pumps, each capable of moving 2 million gallons per day. Recorded by Paul Wheeler.
4m Apr 20
4m
RER-B dream state
"Based on a field recording of the Paris to Charles deGaulle train, put through some effects and instrumentation added." Train ride to Charles de Gaulle airport reimagined by David Aimone.
10m Apr 20
10m
Bremerhaven locks
"It was a privilege to work with this huge-sounding field recording of a massive moving body of water. I tried to stay true to it by not adding any instruments, everything you hear is either the original recording or processed from it." Bremerhaven lock sounds reimagined by percolator.
4m Apr 20
4m
Tram ride, whispers, beeps
"I listened to the file once and very quickly I was drawn into the journey. I tried to give "shape," or rather "sound," to what the voices and noises of the tram produced, what they triggered within me. I followed the rhythm; an imaginary flow, somewhat haunted or at least inhabited, took shape along the length of the original file." Oslo tram ride reimagined by Philippe Neau.
6m Apr 20
6m