This is a brilliant piece. Manipulated sound, beautifully recorded and arranged, briefly surrounds the listener with fantastic, strangely believable syncopation before receding into the normal rhythms of the subway. It's a riveting two minutes of audio that bears repeated listening. The piece opens with reality and quickly heightens that reality; this is magic realism for radio.
Pure audio verite that gives a very nice sense of the New York subway. It go very well with the right sort of evocative wrap; could, perhaps, stand on its own with a brief lead-in, but I think it would best be embedded in some very fine writing.
Lets the sounds of the subway sing for themselves, albeit arranged into what you might consider music, especially if you're a fan of John Cage and/or avant-garde art-noise composers. Even if you're not, the piece has a rhythm you can tap your foot to. The clip will need some introduction by an announcer, as there is no narration--just the subway sounds from start to finish.
I found this piece captivating. I will leave my computer snapping my fingers to the beat. I would work out to something like this only at a quicker pace. Really well done quirky pieces like this can stick like glue in your memory.
This is a fantastic sound art piece. Finding a number of these sound as music pieces and stringing them together could make a great show which contemplates how our society regards sounds of all types.
beautiful... found music to my ears. this is the sort of sound i strive to record. music created by accident is some of the best kind - i would love to hear this on any public radio station, even in cities without subways.
I think this is fantastic. The use of sound in this piece sets sound art and found sound apart from other radio pieces. There seem to be only a handful of people doing this with the effectiveness of the Subway Symphony. It not only imagines a story, but evokes a feeling which is both unsettling and entrancing.
I just reviewed the Internal Combustion Engine piece from a different producer, and I liked that one for the reasons I like this one. An artful rendition of what most of consider "noise." Another piece to bring some spice to a PR station, something to talk about during a pledge-drive maybe. It's short enough to play anywhere, and is almost sure to grab some attention.
There is indeed a symphony of sound on the New York City subway, and it's fun to hear. This piece reminds me of the sonic IDs WCAI on Cape Cod produces to great effect. They brand their station with local sounds and voices.
Makes you think... a whole collection of sounds like these, locally or not so locally, would be a nice way to break up the broadcast day.
What's not to like? A terrific mix of rhythmic sounds of the NYC subway. May not be exactly Rhapsody in Blue, but this bears its railway inspiration very well. A nice break from voices for 1:45 or so.
Comments for Subway Symphony
Produced by paul overton
Other pieces by paul overton
Rating Summary
13 comments
Mark Kewman
Posted on April 18, 2005 at 08:00 AM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
It's like a electronic drumkit of urban underground sounds. could make a good traffic bed, especially in areas with subways.
Andrew Witmer
Posted on September 27, 2004 at 05:12 PM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
This is a brilliant piece. Manipulated sound, beautifully recorded and arranged, briefly surrounds the listener with fantastic, strangely believable syncopation before receding into the normal rhythms of the subway. It's a riveting two minutes of audio that bears repeated listening. The piece opens with reality and quickly heightens that reality; this is magic realism for radio.
Sandra Sleight-Brennan
Posted on July 26, 2004 at 12:30 PM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
I loved this piece. It became more lyrical as it progressed and left me with a smile on my face.
Dave Spicer
Posted on July 07, 2004 at 05:08 AM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
Driving rhythm; sparse voiceover would let it through and permit some fun with syncopation.
Tim Bovee
Posted on July 07, 2004 at 03:59 AM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
Pure audio verite that gives a very nice sense of the New York subway. It go very well with the right sort of evocative wrap; could, perhaps, stand on its own with a brief lead-in, but I think it would best be embedded in some very fine writing.
Chad Boutin
Posted on July 06, 2004 at 09:03 AM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
Lets the sounds of the subway sing for themselves, albeit arranged into what you might consider music, especially if you're a fan of John Cage and/or avant-garde art-noise composers. Even if you're not, the piece has a rhythm you can tap your foot to. The clip will need some introduction by an announcer, as there is no narration--just the subway sounds from start to finish.
Kathleen Ryan
Posted on July 06, 2004 at 06:17 AM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
I found this piece captivating. I will leave my computer snapping my fingers to the beat. I would work out to something like this only at a quicker pace. Really well done quirky pieces like this can stick like glue in your memory.
Carlos Lagrange
Posted on July 04, 2004 at 01:32 PM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
This is a fantastic sound art piece. Finding a number of these sound as music pieces and stringing them together could make a great show which contemplates how our society regards sounds of all types.
[redacted]
Posted on July 02, 2004 at 09:02 AM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
beautiful... found music to my ears. this is the sort of sound i strive to record. music created by accident is some of the best kind - i would love to hear this on any public radio station, even in cities without subways.
Ryan Bruce
Posted on July 01, 2004 at 02:27 PM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
I think this is fantastic. The use of sound in this piece sets sound art and found sound apart from other radio pieces. There seem to be only a handful of people doing this with the effectiveness of the Subway Symphony. It not only imagines a story, but evokes a feeling which is both unsettling and entrancing.
Thanks!
Hans Anderson
Posted on June 18, 2004 at 12:32 PM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
I just reviewed the Internal Combustion Engine piece from a different producer, and I liked that one for the reasons I like this one. An artful rendition of what most of consider "noise." Another piece to bring some spice to a PR station, something to talk about during a pledge-drive maybe. It's short enough to play anywhere, and is almost sure to grab some attention.
Mary McGrath
Posted on June 17, 2004 at 10:33 AM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
There is indeed a symphony of sound on the New York City subway, and it's fun to hear. This piece reminds me of the sonic IDs WCAI on Cape Cod produces to great effect. They brand their station with local sounds and voices.
Makes you think... a whole collection of sounds like these, locally or not so locally, would be a nice way to break up the broadcast day.
Jackson Braider
Posted on June 15, 2004 at 11:08 AM | Permalink
Review of Subway Symphony
What's not to like? A terrific mix of rhythmic sounds of the NYC subway. May not be exactly Rhapsody in Blue, but this bears its railway inspiration very well. A nice break from voices for 1:45 or so.