Little Hell: A Historical Portrait of Chicago Through Music and Sound

UPCOMING LITTLE HELL RELEASES:

John Langford - 1919 Race Riots. Release Date: TBA.

A lot you go to holler: An Audio experiment looking at the people and places of Chicago

+ SHEDD AQUARIUM
The cavernous Oceanarium is the backdrop for the sounds of the Shedd Aquarium.

+ DRAGON BOAT RACES
In between the sounds of freight trains crossing the South Branch of the Chicago River, you can hear an air horn signal the start of Chinatown's Dragon Boat Race.

+ FINKL & SONS: THE NORTH CENTER INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR
The clank of shredded metal and drone of heavy machinery are the soundbed for the constant clatter of the North Center Industrial Corridor.

+ MAI FEST
Everyone in Lincoln Square is German for this weekend.

+ CALUMET FISHERIES
Way far down on the Southeast Side of Chicago is a place that needs to be smelled more than heard.

+ MOTHER'S DAY AT THE SOUTH SHORE BEACH
The sounds of Lake Michigan's surf mixes with the calls of the birds as raindrops hit the microphone, while car horns and sirens blare just beyond the gates of South Shore Cultural Center.

+ ZEN AND THE ART OF DROPPING IN
Skaters reverently line up to take another pass at the ramps rails and boxes at the Logan Blvd. Skate Park.

+ GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY
The sounds of the rain outside give way to the quiet sounds of Chicago's oasis: The Garfield Park Conservatory.

+ TRACKS AND TREES
This installment of the series is a short meditation on the sound of trains and trees.

+ THE END OF SUMMER
This audio walk takes an abbreviated loop around Horner Park on the north side of Chicago.

+ NEW CHURCH (OLD CALENDAR)
Birds join a chorus of church bells in celebration.

+ CLOUDS BESET THE PURPLE MOON
Birds accompany slow rolling thunder to announce an approaching hail storm.

+ WATCH OUT FOR THE KETTLE
A St. Patrick's tale of leaving home and losing offspring to the sea.

+ OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC
The natural stereo sound of the students, teachers and the building itself at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music.

+ ARGYLE STREET
Takes us on a trip to the Uptown neighborhood for a morning on Argyle Street, Chicago's Vietnamese enclave.

+ SOUND IS WELL REFLECTED
A reflection on space and how we hear the holidays.

+ DAN RYAN BEACH
A manipulated study of the sounds of the Dan Ryan.

+ SUBTERRANEAN BLUE: UNDERGROUND EL RECORDINGS
The sound recordings of the 'El' by Oakland-based artist Jason Warriner.

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The Contraphonic Chicago Sound Series

+ Blue areas on map correspond to Little Hell entries.
+ Red areas on map correspond to "A Lot You Got to Holler" entries.
Best viewed on larger map
 

The Contraphonic Chicago Sound Series, aims to aurally illustrate the historic and modern mechanisms of the Working City.

The Sound Series is comprised of two distinct elements: The field recordings and sound pieces in "A Lot You Got to Holler," give a glimpse of the different worlds and elements that make up Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. The second part of the series, entitled Little Hell, brings together Chicago-based musicians and artists to create works that focus on a particular place, event, neighborhood, or moment across Chicago's broad history. The end result is a portrait of Chicago through the medium of sound.

The free downloadable tours and sound pieces found in "A Lot You Got to Holler" are meant to introduce listeners to all of Chicago's faces. Take them with you, imagine, discover and explore. All volumes of the Little Hell series will only be released digitally and will be available through iTunes, as well as Contraphonic.com. The accompanying texts for all Sound Series entries will be included with purchase.

The Contraphonic Chicago Sound Series attempts to make sense of, celebrate, and sonically document the wonders of the past and present that define Chicago. Stop to Listen.

Press on the Sound Series

Time Out Chicago (Sept. '09)
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Public Radio
Time Out Chicago (Feb. '08)