Cities and Memory - remixing the world

Cities and Memory - remixing the world

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Cities and Memory - remixing the world episodes

  • A single chord in an abandoned hospital
    Abandoned hospital sound reimagined by Cities and Memory.

    "The original field recording is a sinister drone right out of a dystopian tale, and I wanted to accentuate that sinister quality, along with the mechanical, industrial nature of the sound. 

    "This is a 'self-generating' piece with various arpeggiators and loops playing the same chord and developing themselves over the course of the piece. Some suitably industrial drum parts were added, and to add the final touches an enveloped distortion effect applies as the piece progresses, so the sound seems to degenerate and almost fall apart on itself by the end."
    5 min
  • Empty hospital drone
    Abandoned hospital drone recorded by Connor Orrico.

    "The children's hospital moved, so this is just ambience of the abandoned central plaza of the old building next to a fairly busy street."
    2 min
  • Empty hospital drone
    Abandoned hospital drone recorded by Connor Orrico.

    "The children's hospital moved, so this is just ambience of the abandoned central plaza of the old building next to a fairly busy street."
    2 min
  • Starlings
    Starling murmuration reimagined by thequietwood. 

    "The field recording reminded me of walks and runs (very slow jogs), on my local moor (Dartmoor).

    "I imagined myself going for a run on a crisp spring morning, crunching my way over icy grass  and stopping by a hedgerow where I briefly disturb the Starlings, and then I proceed to run on, watching the murmuration display of the soaring and swirling Starlings.

    "The field recording was used to create all the additional drum sounds (Snares, Hi-hats) and the pulsating "wind" rhythmical elements. I have additionally layered simple simple arpeggios to represent the "running" and then further synth work for the flying Starlings.

    "This piece was also inspired by the latest Leafcutter John album, Come Parade With Us."

    7 min
  • Starlings
    Starling murmuration reimagined by thequietwood. 

    "The field recording reminded me of walks and runs (very slow jogs), on my local moor (Dartmoor).

    "I imagined myself going for a run on a crisp spring morning, crunching my way over icy grass  and stopping by a hedgerow where I briefly disturb the Starlings, and then I proceed to run on, watching the murmuration display of the soaring and swirling Starlings.

    "The field recording was used to create all the additional drum sounds (Snares, Hi-hats) and the pulsating "wind" rhythmical elements. I have additionally layered simple simple arpeggios to represent the "running" and then further synth work for the flying Starlings.

    "This piece was also inspired by the latest Leafcutter John album, Come Parade With Us."

    7 min
  • Starling murmurations, Otmoor
    A freezing cold afternoon in winter, and we visited the RSPB nature reserve at Otmoor in Oxfordshire to try to see the starling murmurations. The main event happened way off in the distance and was impossible to record, but walking back along the icy, flooded path, we accidentally disturbed a huge number of starlings in a hedgerow right next to us, who took to the skies and circled above our heads, captured in this recording.

    Recorded by Cities and Memory.
    3 min
  • Starling murmurations, Otmoor
    A freezing cold afternoon in winter, and we visited the RSPB nature reserve at Otmoor in Oxfordshire to try to see the starling murmurations. The main event happened way off in the distance and was impossible to record, but walking back along the icy, flooded path, we accidentally disturbed a huge number of starlings in a hedgerow right next to us, who took to the skies and circled above our heads, captured in this recording.

    Recorded by Cities and Memory.
    3 min
  • Time rings out across the city
    Oxford New Year's Eve bells reimagined by Matt Chapman Jones.

    "As I listened to the recording, I ended up thing of how they are such a constant part of a city; all the comings and goings, rises and falls but the bells sounding out the passage of time are in fact much more permanent."
    4 min
  • Time rings out across the city
    Oxford New Year's Eve bells reimagined by Matt Chapman Jones.

    "As I listened to the recording, I ended up thing of how they are such a constant part of a city; all the comings and goings, rises and falls but the bells sounding out the passage of time are in fact much more permanent."
    4 min
  • New Years' Eve in a global pandemic
    New Year's Eve 2020 in Oxford - the country remained in a state of lockdown, with citizens only allowed out to exercise outdoors in their own local area, with no socialising allowed with others, truly the most bizarre festive season anyone has experienced. We wandered around the centre of our home city in thick fog on a freezing night, and right next to the famous Radcliffe Camera, the bells of St. Margaret's Church chimed for what would be one of the final times of the year. Ringing out through the mist, they symbolised a truly sad end to an unprecedented year. 
    2 min

About Cities and Memory - remixing the world

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Cities and Memory remixes the world, one sound at a time - a global collaboration between artists and sound recordists all over the world.