Ambient bus, Shadwell, London on 27th September 2024 – by Nada Smiljanic

Field Recordings

“I made this crappy phone recording late one evening, passing through Shadwell on my way home. I was admiring the quaint docklands architecture along Cable Street (and the clear skies – I think it was a full moon that night) when I approached a stationary London bus. The sound coming from it was so peaceful and unexpected. I inspected the bus; it was empty, and the driver had propped himself up against a small wall outside and was smoking a cigarette. My first thought was that he was playing some music, and I thought about approaching him to ask what it was, but got shy. Instead, I stood there for a few minutes, taking in the atmosphere and texture created by the mystery sound, punctuated by the occasional passing car or cyclist.

I later read that this is the sound London’s new electric buses make when they’re stationary. They’ve been especially designed that way as a safety feature, given that electric vehicles are nearly silent by default. I had never heard this sound before, but really like the thought of a future where it’s a regular feature in the city’s soundscape.”