Sam Robinson, a sound and video artist from Catford, London, did exactly that and came up with the creative idea of making his own Sonic Journey, by visiting each of the 62 zone one Underground stations and recording what he heard.
He picked up sounds that best represented each area. He chose the 'Changing of the Guard' to depict Green Park, which is next to Buckingham Palace. He used the well-known and oft-heard chimes of Big Ben to signify the area around the Palace of Westminster.
Other sounds were chosen after a great deal of thought and persistence. He chose Warren Street's traffic on Euston Road. He picked up the sound of a squeaking bridge at Embankment. He also left the silent but crowded lift at Russell Square for artistic reasons.
Make your own journey
It is recommended that these journeys are made at leisure at not in the middle of a working day, as one tends to miss the fine subtleties of the real sounds of the Underground. Sam’s idea is not a one-off experiment as he urges people to make their own unique sound journey.
You can grab your own slice of ‘Offbeat’ London and explore as the diversity of the city manifests itself sonically. All you need is a simple recorder and a map, that's it.
Why don't you mail us, and let us know if there are any unique tube sounds near you!
Sonic Journeys are available for download, see Sam Robinson’s website
http://www.kalou.co.uk/
Have your say - info@offbeatlondon.co.uk
If you are desperately looking for something different, one idea could be: to create your own Sonic Journey.
by Su Chang
published on: 13 April, 2010
Take your own Sonic Journey
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