Embankment (Howlround)

Embankment reimagined by Howlround. Track written and produced by Robin The Fog.

"The 'melodic' part of the piece was constructed largely from a small part of the original recording, the high-pitch squeak of a train entering the station on the District line platform. This sound was dubbed onto tape, cut into a loop, stretched across the studio and then played back at different speeds to create different pitches. The slight fluctuations in pitch you'll hear is the tape loop snagging on various items of furniture. Additional parts of the piece were made by recreating the original journey between platforms and making new recordings. Despite parts of the final track having a very saturated feel, I like to think the subject matter remains unmistakable. Even though the sounds were very brief and recorded on the platform, it feels as though you're on a train in a tunnel travelling under the Thames (which is appropriate, given Embankment's location). I suppose I was trying to evoke the impact the Underground had on my imagination during rare trips to London as a youngster with its soundtrack of distant subterranean rumbles and sudden unearthly screeches. I've been trying to make music that evokes that world ever since!"

Part of our project The Next Station, reimagining the sounds of the London Underground and creating the first ever tube sound map. August 2016 - for more information see www.citiesandmemory.com/thenextstation