Floating Cities
A listening exercise in noticing what stays still and what changes.
Take a moment to listen.
“Floating Cities” by Kevin MacLeod · CC BY 4.0. The photograph illustrates this page; it is not official cover artwork.
Follow one layer
Choose a single sound near the beginning and follow it for a minute. Does it remain in the foreground, fade behind another part, or disappear? Write down the point where your attention moves. There is no need to name every instrument.
Map the changes
On a second pass, mark three moments that feel different from the opening. Listen for a change in density, register, rhythm, or silence. Compare those moments before deciding whether the piece needs a conventional verse or chorus.
Keep the note small
Write one observation and one question for a later listen. These prompts are an invitation to explore, not a definitive account of the composer’s intentions or recording process.
Read the listening guide or return to the full listening library.