Cities and Memory - remixing the world

Cities and Memory - remixing the world

By Cities and MemorySociety & CultureArtsMusicPlaces & Travel
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Cities and Memory - remixing the world episodes

  • Lockdown life next door
    Lockdown sound from Lagos, Nigeria recorded by Ibukun Sunday.

    "First, the attack on protestors last night was a new chapter for the #EndSARS protests, with far-reaching consequences for the future politics of the country. The attack happen last year 2020 doing the lockdown.

    "Second, the land borders were closed to goods in August 2019, with partial openings and closings for people prompted by the coronavirus pandemic throughout 2020.

    "Third, I have been working from home, which I am not used to and it's killing me. I am just upset that I can't travel for any performances or festivals."

    Part of the StayHomeSounds project to map and reimagine the sounds of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
    8 min
  • Magnetic levitation
    Shanghai MagLev train reimagined by Cities and Memory.

    "There's not much going on in the original field recording, which is primarily a smooth drone punctuated by a light scattering of conversation poking through, as the train quietly gets on with its job.

    "The piece, then, is based on what's going on outside the train as it blasts through the suburban spaces towards the airport at 300kmh. The original field recording sits panned hard left and right, while the central space is taken up by some kinetic 125bpm beats to symbolise the rapidity of the journey, and tape-effected synth lines to take up the 'magnetic' side of the MagLev's name - magnetic pulses transformed into sound."

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    5 min
  • Travelling at 300km/h on the MagLev train
    A train connecting the city of Shanghai with its international airport, moving at 300km/h, recorded from onboard by Mark Wilden.

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    3 min
  • Budapest in dreams
    Budapest train station reimagined by Mandy Matz.

    "The original recording had a lovely melody in it. I decided to expand on that melody using my voice. I was not prepared for the sense of place this recording would give me. I could feel the air on my face as I walked through the terminal at the airport in Budapest."

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    9 min
  • Tirana
    Tirana taxi ride reimagined by Fernando Cerqueira.

    "One of my travels plans was to try in one or two years to visit Tirana. At this moment with the impossibility to do that, this composition was a chance to be there and who knows if during this year I could be there."

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    3 min
  • Flight mode
    Jeddah pre-flight announcements reimagined by Andy Billington.

    "I was inspired by the theatre of flying and the unnatural act of battling gravity in that liminal moment as the plane coasts towards the runway and begins the ritual for take off.

    "That moment when you are all seated. Safety messages are presented as fact in many languages. You begin to coast towards the runway and the sun comes in through the small window as the plane turns. People are preparing for their journey with differing methods of distraction, music devices, iPads or other more ancient methods such as a book. All the while anticipation builds as the plane continues its take off ritual. Imagine being able to hear all of the different musical devices at once, mixed in with the theatre of flight (which still feels unnatural to me). We all sit ready to leave land in a pressurized metal tube. Everyone switches to flight mode."

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    7 min
  • Marco Polo jumped over the moon
    Venice flight landing reimagined by Tenali Hrenak.

    "This sound painting, Marco Polo Jumped Over The Moon, features a menagerie of music boxes as well as swinging chimes, gongs, a wind-up toy, and random field recordings from around the house, aiming to colour the landing at Marco Polo with floating etherealness."

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    4 min
  • Keleti train station, Budapest
    A recording from inside Keleti train station in Budapest, Hungary by Mark Wilden.

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    2 min
  • Taxi ride in Tirana
    "Driving in the centre of Tirana can be a frustrating experience. Heavy traffic jams can leave you stranded for hours. 

    "The Albanians also have a reputation for being quite eccentric drivers who like to throw the rule book out the window. In conditions like this and because the city is small, it often makes far more sense to walk. 

    "It is easy and quite safe to wander the city streets and this also allows you to be immersed in the unique soundscape of the city, seeing and hearing all that it has to offer. 

    For some sights however you will need to get a bit further out of town and this is where a taxi ride can come in handy. Although my trip to Tirana took place right in the middle of the pandemic and the streets were far emptier than would usually be, which added a unique and special quality to the city’s atmosphere. I think this comes across when you listen to the sounds that have been captured. Like a unique fingerprint these sounds are unique to this city and tell its story to those who know how to listen."

    Recorded by Rafael Diogo.

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    2 min
  • Pre-flight supplication to Allah, Saudi Arabia
    Before an internal flight from Jeddah to Riyadh, a supplication to Allah for safety in travel is broadcast after the regular safety announcements you'd expect to hear on a flight - a sonic feature unique to the region, this one is from a Saudia flight. Recorded by Cities and Memory.

    Part of the Until We Travel project to map and reimagine the sounds of transport and travel in a pre-pandemic and pandemic world. See the whole project at https://www.citiesandmemory.com/travel.
    7 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.