To be compelling, a narrative requires a certain amount of conflict, however subtle it may be. Giannico explains the duality that drives the narrative of Metrophony. “The metro trip represents a dynamic soundscape in conflict with a static soundscape boxed in itself with a lot of samples already listened in a circular way like the mechanical sounds, doors of the train, train brakes and so on.” (Stationarytravels)
Metrophony
Time Released Sound 2014
Music and Mastering by Francesco Giannico
Artwork and design by Colin Herrick
On August 6, 2013, Francesco Giannico recorded the entire route of the “B” line of the subway in the city of Rome, that connects the “Rebibbia” station with the “Laurentina” station, and the “B1” line that connects the ‘Bologna’ station with the ‘Conca D ‘Oro’ station… Audio samples collected were manipulated and transformed electronically, and enriched with synth and/or musical instruments such as guitars, piano, violins. The result is “Metrophony” which is also an art installation.
“The subway trip is a dynamic soundscape, in conflict with the static soundscape that is enclosed by the act itself. This is the function of the mechanical nature, and of the repetitive gesture typical of post-industrial societies. Therefore, some daily sounds will recreate in a circular fashion, such as mechanical sounds, the doors of the train, the train brakes, and so on. Over time we can see that in fact the so-called dynamic soundscape is actually a static soundscape… every day that passes it becomes more like itself.”
Proprio questo rende “Metrophony” un’opera al tempo stesso concettualmente esemplare e densa di suggestioni avvincenti e ipnotiche, colte da una quotidianità in grado di offrire spunti auditivi che solo un attento e sensibile ascolto può essere in grado di catturare, rielaborare e restituire trasformate ma intatte nella loro essenza descrittiva.(Musicwontsaveyou)