This sound brings together two invisibilties that lurk in King’s Cross.
The first is the “lost” River Fleet, flowing from Hampstead Heath to Blackfriars. Once several hundred feet wide and rumoured to possess healing properties, the fleet was a substantial body of water. As the city grew between the 17th and 18th century, space and sanitation became unimaginable around the river. Consequently, by 1870 the Fleet was almost entirely covered. Despite concealment, the river’s subterranean existence persists. Hidden from sight, the Fleet’s journey can be traced underneath this very point.
Secondly, this sound excavates the music-history that characterises the area. The site of Coal Drops Yard was once home to Bagley’s, a venue that influenced genres that formed the sonic identity 90s rave culture, such as acid house and jungle. However, as redevelopment loomed, Bagley’s was forced to close its doors in 2007.
Both the Fleet and Bagley’s were submerged through London’s eternally changing shape and form.
The House Crew (2022) 'Keep The Fire Burning', Ozmatli's Return, Pt. 1. Available at: Spotify (Accessed: 4 March 2025).
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