Keynotes of San Francisco - October 2006

I've been out listening and recording. The sounds of San Francisco are easier to isolate in recordings than NYC. Less noiiise, less people. The sounds that reoccur most here seem to be: the underground space whoosh of the BART, the MUNI bus' Star Wars twangy cables, dingy trolleys, clackity cable cars, crows, starlings, town clock, ferry boats, Spanish speakers, street performers, people asking for change, dogs in parks, the ocean shusshing, echos of Native American culture which sounds stronger than on the East Coast...the coyotes in Golden Gate Park. Another unheard sound is of everyone simultaneously cursing in their cars to find parking but come out smiling. lala la. peaceman. People do yell on the streets here but often it's like a fun shout and it's freeform, not so sculpted like cursing on the streets of nyc.



The Transamerica Building at 600 Montgomery Street. The pyramid shape was inspired by how the shape of a tree lets light down into the forest. It might be the tallest building in SF (for now) and it's only fitting that it has its own loud drone. The drone comes from two round concrete vents in front perhaps for the parking garage underground, but I like to think that the building is being serenaded.



drone makers. There is a person in the shot for perspective. won't say what the layout of the concrete things and the pyramid make me think of.



drone makers prettied up for Christmas.