The Project

Late 2008, on the edges of Leeds city centre, flanked by a motorway bypass and the hills of Chapeltown. Living under the shadow of a Public Finance Initiative, residents are displaced, housing blocks are emptied and demolished. The future of those who remain is uncertain.

Throughout 2008, Incidental worked in Little London as part of Opera North’s ongoing residency there. Collaborating with local residents and schoolchildren, we recorded a variety of sounds that reflect life in the area. Machinery and playgrounds, community choirs and rappers echoing in tower block stairwells.

The project is a document of that process, resulting in a custom audio instrument that allows users to remix and resample sounds of the area into their own compositions. On this site you can download the instrument, or review what others have done with it.

The project also included an installation at Opera North’s Grand Theatre, and live performances by David Gunn and cellist Matthew Sharp. A CD release is also in preparation for release in late 2009, arranged and produced by David Gunn.