Concept and background

'You're Just a Small Town in Derby' is cut together from a recording made at Coventry City F.C. versus Nottingham Forest in April 2005. This was one of a series of recordings carried out at Coventry's Highfield Road that season. These recordings were later catalogued and edited as part of 'My Only City: The Sounds of the West Terrace'. Once completed, some 500 minutes of edited recordings will be made available through a searchable, online database (to be hosted at myonlycity.net).

The vocalisations, song and chant performed at football matches, are commonly referred to in the English language as 'noise'. As if these performances were to have no structure, no language, no intention to communicate. I was interested, through straight, documentary sound recording and simple editing, in subtly exploring the syntax of football crowd vocalisation, and revealing a certain complexity to these performances.

Release details

'You're Just a Small Town in Derby!' was cut Edições Nodar's inaugural release, 'Football Narratives'.

Credits

Research and development of 'My Only City' was supported by the Arts Council England and PVA MediaLab.