A psychogeophonic investigation into Hackney with contributions from Iain Sinclair, Stewart Home, John Barker, We Are Bad/Savage Messiah, Charles Adegoke, Olga Panades, Xavier Zapata, Alan Hayday, Jonny Mugwump and Sally Mumby-Croft. All sounds and conversations recorded on location in Hackney.
Originally broadcast on Resonance FM during March and April 2009.
episode 1
Hackney author and psychogeographer Iain Sinclair reminisces on forty years as a Hackney resident and reveals his thoughts on regeneration and The Olympics.
episode 2
A collage of found sounds and field recordings including Iain Sinclair and dowser Alan Hayday discussing memory whilst tracing the route of the Hackney Brook, Renchie Bicknell recalling two surreal experiences he witnessed whilst working as a gardener in Victoria Park in the early 1970’s, Charles Adegoke’s appeal for help in finding his ring, and Nick Hamilton’s strange encounter on a foggy afternoon in London Fields.
episode 3
Featuring memories culled from conversations with ex Angry Brigade member John Barker and writer/artist Stewart Home. John Barker has lived in Hackney for around 40 years and has vivid memories of both local politics and drinking establishments. Stewart Home reads a piece he wrote for his ‘Smile’ magazine about Hackney pubs frequented by local militants and later on he discusses his own memories of haircuts, popstars and illegal restaurants.
episode 4
Jonny Mugwump introduces us to the Hackney-born occultist Samuel MacGregor Mathers who was a founder member of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, in addition to this Iain Sinclair discusses non-spaces, Sofia Iglesias reads an extract of Guy Debord’s ‘Theory of the Derive’, Olga Panades explains how she discovered Hackney, and the artist Leigh Niland talks to Xavier Zapata about Hackney Wick.
episode 5
Nick Hamilton takes to the streets of Hackney again to ask the natives What and Where is Hackney? We go in search of the Spirit of Broadway Market with Xavier Zapata, and hear from Kray Twin associate Tony Lambrianou as he recalls a night out in Hackney during the sixties that ended in murder. In addition to all of this we hear Iain Sinclair discussing the Hackney Mole Man with his ex-lodger, the artist Mark Pawson.
episode 6
Nick Hamilton reflects on decades of walking the streets of London and describes how he reached the point of no return. In an attempt to exorcise his demons he goes walking, talking and drinking with the artist, poet and magician Robin Bale. Together the pair encounter a trio of cockney doggers whilst searching for entrances to the underworld. Finally, in the Bicycle Graveyard a ritual is performed.