LCD Soundsystem Frontman Wants to Turn NYC Subway Into Symphony of Beeps
What if subway turnstiles could make music?
In our cluttered daily soundscapes of shrill beeps, rings and tones, any effort to ameliorate the anxiety-inducing effects of these noises should be welcomed with open arms. Such is the premise upon which frontman James Murphy of disbanded punk group LCD Soundsystem launched his project, “Subway Symphony,” which proposes the replacement of the beeps emitted by the turnstile machines of the NYC Metro when someone enters, with complementary notes that form chord upon melodious chord during peak times and rush hour. The intended effect would be a calming one, aimed at taking some of the stress out of daily life and making the city a kinder place. Inspired by the jingles unique to every station in the Tokyo metro, Murphy envisions that stations on the same subway line combining to create larger musical scores, resulting in symphonies at interchange stations. Backed by Heineken, check out a demonstration of this concept at the project website.
