Cities and Memory - remixing the world

Cities and Memory - remixing the world

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Cities and Memory - remixing the world episodes

  • Unite for Freedom anti-lockdown rally April 2021 - Monument
    Several thousand anti-lockdown demonstrators marched through central London on a Saturday in April 2021 despite restrictions on mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The event was billed by organisers: "Unite for Freedom".

    The protesters viewed COVID-19 restrictions as unnecessary and a breach of their human rights. They opposed vaccinations, mask-wearing and so called health passports.

    Recorded by Rafael Diogo.

    "A quieter soundscape in which the protesters just left the main shopping district Oxford Street and are now crossing Monument on their way to Westmister. Here you can hear the organizers greeting everyone for their presence and support and protesters chanting words such as "freedom" and "take off your mask". 

    "The protesters view COVID-19 restrictions as unnecessary and a breach of their human rights. They oppose vaccinations, mask-wearing and so called health passports. This soundscape also highlights a peaceful interaction between protesters and the protesters on their way to face each other along the river."

    Part of the StayHomeSounds project to map and reimagine the sounds of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
    3 min
  • Unite for Freedom anti-lockdown rally April 2021 - Hyde Park
    Several thousand anti-lockdown demonstrators marched through central London on a Saturday in April 2021 despite restrictions on mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The event was billed by organisers: "Unite for Freedom".

    The protesters viewed COVID-19 restrictions as unnecessary and a breach of their human rights. They opposed vaccinations, mask-wearing and so called health passports.

    Recorded by Rafael Diogo.

    "This soundscape highlights the end of the march where demonstrators dispersed throughout all arteries of London and some returned to Hyde Park. 

    "In this soundscape we can hear the Hare Krishna delivering some free food to the protesters, including apples and a vegan meal composed of dal and rice. 

    "We can also hear some small portable sound systems in the background playing reggae music while the remaining protesters still have energy to chant “Don't take the vaccine” at the sound of hip hop beats."

    Part of the StayHomeSounds project to map and reimagine the sounds of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
    8 min
  • Unite for Freedom anti-lockdown rally April 2021 - Westminster
    Several thousand anti-lockdown demonstrators marched through central London on a Saturday in April 2021 despite restrictions on mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The event was billed by organisers: "Unite for Freedom".

    The protesters viewed COVID-19 restrictions as unnecessary and a breach of their human rights. They opposed vaccinations, mask-wearing and so called health passports.

    Recorded by Rafael Diogo.

    "This soundscape highlights a quieter part of the protest, featuring the tale of the rally, in which officers engage with the protesters that had gathered in bigger groups and offer themselves to explain that their actions are unlawful under the Covid-19 regulations, and encourage them to go home to help protect themselves and others. 

    "The majority of the protesters did not appear to be engaging with the police advice as they made their way through along the river in Westminster, although always keeping a peaceful interaction with the police forces."

    Part of the StayHomeSounds project to map and reimagine the sounds of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
    6 min
  • You're a tune that keep turning the pages
    Wytham church choir reimagined by Cities and Memory.

    "A looped section of the choir's song flows in and out of the piece, and the upbeat, summery hymn is overtaken by a darker mood of sitar and tabla beats floating around a central low drone. 

    "Is there something darker lurking beneath the veneer of this quintessentially English garden party in a churchyard?"
    5 min
  • Overheard outside a church
    Outside a tiny village church in Wytham, Oxfordshire, we stumble across a quintessential garden party in the churchyard, with clinking wine glasses and English conversation. In the background, the piece is underpinned by the church choir singing an upbeat hymn - we record a snippet of singing and conversation, and then we're on our way.

    Recorded by Cities and Memory. 
    2 min
  • Clock shop modular
    Polish clock shop reimagined by Cities and Memory.

    "For this piece, we set the tempo clock of a Moog Subharmonicon to track one of the ticking clocks in the original field recording, and set it relatively low in the mix, as if the synthesiser is playing the role of one of the clocks in the shop, bedding into the wall of ticks in this immensely-rich recording. Synth pads over the top build the structure and emotion of the piece as it develops."
    4 min
  • Clock shop in Szczecin, Poland
    A rich and unique soundscape from the inside of a clock shop in Poland, recorded by Simon B.

    "A clock shop at the bottom of a tower block that is full of clocks, all ticking together."
    2 min
  • Stubble field in the rain, Canada
    Rain in a stubble field at the edge of Waterloo, Canada, where corn is planted by the highway between commercial lots. 

    It’s April, a year in, and Ontario is locking down again. The sounds are rain on last year’s dried corn, stalks under foot, traffic noise, inland seagulls.

    Recorded by John Savarese. 

    Part of the StayHomeSounds project to map and reimagine the sounds of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
    3 min
  • The Blue Line
    Bangkok metro reimagined by Cities and Memory.

    "This field recording brought back strong memories of my first visit to Bangkok, falling in love with the hectic, constantly-moving city as it swirled around me. Bangkok seemed to me a confluence of futuristic aspiration and millions upon millions of people doing their best to make in a competitive conurbation. 

    "The metro was the fastest, simplest way to make your way around the centre of the city, and this piece is based on memories of the emotions of travelling above the streets at night, feeling the sense of endless possibility pulsing out of the very city itself, as if you could hear it breathing in and out.

    "The piece is built from Moog Subharmonicon lines weaving in and out of passages of field recordings, with some piano and tenor brass accompaniment weighting out the mix, representing the heft of the trains on their tracks."
    6 min
  • Bangkok metro journey, Thailand
    Bangkok metro recorded by Colin Hunter.

    "This recording captures a ride on the MRT Blue Line from Lumpini Station to Hua Lumpong station and includes the station atmosphere before the train arrives, and walking out through the ticket barriers after I got off the train."
    9 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.