Cities And Memory

"Every place has a heartbeat, a beat all its own. As a songwriter, I try to echo the beauty and mystery which already exits.  "For the Koruse Beach field recording, I was immediately inspired by one little bird, whom I named Koko. What a wonderful eighth note rhythm he had in his song! At first, I tried to tame Koko by cutting his song into single chirps in order to manipulate them. But Koko sounded wrong, not like Koko. So, I knew I must be Koko. I grunted (not chirped, because chirping "like a bird" doesn't work) into the microphone, and raised the grunt an octave. I became the "strange bird" on beats two and four to join with Koko's natural song. "There is nothing like a synthesizer to provoke images. Using a hesitant synth arpeggio, I urged the sound to become the pull and release of waves against a north country's shore. A piano melody joined the cacophony and brought the thrill and challenge of a new day just beginning.  "To honor Estonia's rich vocal heritage, I added a vocalization of the main melo

This recording, made in 2024 on the beach of Kõruse village in Saaremaa, Estonia, captures an unfiltered moment of nature in spring, when bird activity is at its peak. Being totally blind recordist, I have always been fascinated by sounds—I call it the blind photography. While others take pictures, I take recordings, and my goal was to capture nature as authentically as possible. Late in the evening, I set up my rig and left the recorder alone on the beach, allowing the landscape to unfold on its own terms.  The result is a rich, immersive soundscape: a duck bursts from the sea on the right, quacking intensely as it flies past the microphones, followed closely by another in pursuit. In the background, a chorus of birds fills the air, their calls resonating against the deep natural reverb of the forest behind.  The remote and untouched character of the location creates a distinctive acoustic atmosphere, where the interplay of coastal and woodland environments adds depth and movement to the sound. Free from h

The Murrumbidgee River catchment extends from the Snowy Mountains to beyond the dusty plains of Hay and includes numerous permanent and temporary wetlands. Fivebough Wetland is distinguished through recognition under the United Nation’s Ramsar Convention, which identifies sites of international importance for migratory birds. Many birds travel to Fivebough from the northern hemisphere during spring, where they stay for summer and then return to their breeding grounds in northern Australia and other islands to our north.  In winter the wetlands are also home to thousands of migratory birds taking advantage of the food and shelter resources available. Over 170 different bird species have been observed at Fivebough, including seven species considered threatened in New South Wales. Of 360 wetlands surveyed within the Murray-Darling Basin, Fivebough recorded the highest number of waterbird species and it ranked second for the total number of species recorded in a single survey.  Upwards of 20,000 waterbirds

"I tried to play along with sounds of the swamp using a mix of analogue and digital electronic devices, which was a rewarding challenge, even if nature has all the best tunes, and the best instruments." Fivebough Wetland, Australia reimagined by Gareth Evans.

"I loved the sound of the running water. As I was listening I was imagining a fantasy world with magical sprites flying around the banks of a stream, the light from the sun changing the colors of the water as it moved through the banks of the mountains." Gran Sasso park, Italy reimagined by Firephly.

This recording features a hydrophone capture from the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park in Abruzzo, Italy. While exploring the area, I discovered a series of natural pools, waterfalls, and streams. The recording immerses listeners in the gentle sounds of flowing water, creating a tranquil and immersive experience that transports one to this serene location. Recorded by Rafael Diogo.

"First you hear the river, flowing, splashing. Then, when you listen closer, subtler sounds emerge, pebbles rolling, bubbles fizzing. In response to this soundscape, I created a virtual instrument from the field recording, allowing the river’s voice to be played on a keyboard like a melody.  "A continuo rhythmic pattern flows throughout, varying with the terrain as the river passes through landforms of hills, fields and villages on its journey to the Thames. The river’s song rises and falls with the composition’s mood, and in the final moments, the sound ascends like rushing wind before fading out." River Windrush reimagined by Martin Gregory.

On a cold February afternoon in Oxfordshire, England, we record the sounds of the River Windrush flowing under an old English stone bridge, with the slight reverb from under the bridge arch throwing some of the sound back, and some detail of water flowing over rocks.  Recorded by Cities and Memory. 

"This beautiful recording of waves washing over tumbling stones captured my imagination immediately. The waves are infinitely soul soothing and the stones magical as they gently tumble on the shore line. "After listening to recording over several days I simply allowed the mesmerizing combination of sound textures to inspire my improvisational guitar solo.  I dedicate this piece to my loyal friend and constant companion Oliver, a Dandie Dinmont Terrier who recently passed away. "Safe travels my friend." Waves in Puerto de Valldemossa reimagined by Tom Thompson. 

Heavy waves dragging large stones back and forth on a wild beach at the harbour of Puerto de Valldemossa in the UNESCO-listed Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca.  Recorded by Cities and Memory. 

"I have used the original recording throughout . The deer hooves act as percussion in some parts, the nightingale brings rhythm to sections and there is a repeated calling at the end of most phrases. "The idea is that each calling is bringing in the changes we see throughout spring. The idea for the tune is an evolving piece based on cycles , rebirth and metamorphosis. "It starts with the first morning in spring as a short song and then the main body, or day, is an instrumental piece with a recurring theme which blends into the evening of spring for the final chorus before summer breaks." Deer and nightingales in Nara reimagined by Daniel Chudley Le - Corre (Rhoald Earl & Emo).

We can hear the roar of deer and the chirps of birds (such as the Japanese nightingales). This recording signify the soundscape of Japan's forest. This forest is called Kasugayama Primeval Forest, and has been protected as a sacred area of ​​Kasuga Taisha Shrine since ancient times. In the quiet and sacred atmosphere, we can hear the threatening roars of the deer, which are believed to be messengers of the gods at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. And, this place is near my alma mater. I recorded this when I visited there about 10 years after I graduated. For me, it is a nostalgic soundscape.  Recorded by Nishikawa Yoshihiro.

Here is a 7 minute and 25 second recording of the sea, at Heywoods Beach in Barbados one warm and sunny evening in August of 2015. As someone with a visual impairment, it's sound, not images, that make my world what it is, so I aim to share that love with others by high-quality audio recordings wherever possible. This recording contains sounds of traffic, people having fun in the sea, the sound of the sea waves washing almost up to the feet of the tripod on which the recording equipment sat, some birds flying overhead, and a few other random noises. All of these sounds were captured using an Olympus LS-100, a Jecklin Disk and some cad M179 condenser microphones. Recorded by Andre Louis.

A summer rain falls over the backyard, drumming softly against the leaves and pooling in the grass. Distant rumbles of thunder roll through the sky, blending with the rhythmic patter of raindrops on the patio and the occasional drip from overhanging branches.  Birds call out between showers, their songs momentarily breaking through the hush of falling water. A light breeze stirs the trees, sending a soft rustle through the damp foliage. The earthy scent of rain-soaked soil and fresh greenery lingers in the air, wrapping the moment in a calm, almost dreamlike atmosphere.  It’s a soothing symphony of nature, capturing the peaceful solitude of a warm, rainy afternoon. Recorded in Skopje, Macedonia by Toni Dimitrov. 

"I have never been to Barbados, but hearing the recording immediately summoned back memories of the first time I took my daughter to the ocean, and she stood there with arms outstretched with glee every time a wave crashed against the sand. Cherished, but tinged with the bittersweet taste of memory. The composition came very quickly while holding those images in my mind." Waves in Barbados reimagined by Jeremy Dickens.

"It does not care about the 6000-year-old human history of Skopje. It does not care what language is spoken or what religion is practised. It cares not if it is wanted or shunned, if it drenches the crops or is too little to quench the thirst of livestock. It falls on the rich and the poor and sometimes not at all. "I chose the recording of backyard rain by Toni Dimitrov because it sounds like any rain. I chose it because it is a particular rain. I chose it because once it rained over Skopje in North Macedonia. A place on earth that have had many rulers, none of which could rule the rain." Skopje rainfall reimagined by Eva Q Månsson.

"Various ciat lonbarde wooden synths guide the original field recording which I re-recorded onto cassette and manipulated live by hand to create a woozy dream sequence.  "Birds and voices are intermingled as the tape is allowed to snag, fast forward and rewind. The ciat lonbarde synths capture snippets of audio and playfully turn them into 8 bit micro loops as life plays out. Who will release the birds?" Kabul bird market recording by Anders Vinjar, reimagined by Andy Billington.

Intense sounds of birds and people inside Kabul's famous Ka Faroshi bird market, people doing their business as usual, post 45 years of traumatic war. This recording 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 by Anders Vinjar, 2025.

"I know I’m not alone in having many experiences of waiting for the bus. Sometimes anxiety-ridden and isolating, other times sweetened by the company of friends or a loved one. Either way, the bus brings to mind nostalgia, impermanence, and above all, connection. "My memories of waiting at the bus stop layer like patches in this track, tiny dots weaving through various recollections. A mental tug of war between the days events and future dreaming. The bus ride itself is like being in a cradle: the hum, the screeching, and the hydraulics coming together in it’s own unique score. "Whenever I find myself waiting for the bus, I always feel simultaneously alone and connected. Linked, as if all of us passengers were bound together in a web of melancholy. These moments of waiting aren’t passive: they’re kids playing, thoughts running back and forth like a game of tag. The recording of children waiting for the bus brought to mind the transience of childhood and the idea of life as a journey. After all, as the famil

Autumn of 2024. An hour before sunset. In front of Kofu Station, the capital of Yamanashi-ken, Japan, a group of elementary school students (shougakusei) waited for the bus that would take them back home. Recorded by Gus - On Collector.