Sheffield Co-op's Ambient Freezer Drone Mesmerizes Shoppers

A Co-op supermarket on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield has become the unlikely source of a captivating ambient drone, sparking fascination among shoppers and online communities. This unique sound, emanating from the store's freezers, has been likened to an 'electrical gong bath' and even compared to Brian Eno's seminal work, 'Music for Airports'.

The phenomenon gained traction on Reddit, with users sharing videos and debating the precise musical tuning of the appliance hum. Some noted its evolving sonic character over time, describing it as 'ageing like fine wine'. The author visited the store to experience the sound firsthand.

Upon investigation, the cluster of three freezers at the back of the shop produced a surprisingly symphonic hum. While staff were largely unaware of the sound's appeal, recordings shared with music aficionados confirmed its harmonic qualities, evoking synthesized human voices and the ambient textures of electric cars.

This discovered sound echoes a long history of musicians incorporating found sounds into their work, from Italian futurists to musique concrète pioneers. However, the freezer's drone is notable for its natural, uncomposed harmony, offering an unexpected attunement to the world around us. Even the author's local Co-op freezers emitted a similar, previously unnoticed hum.

A Co-op spokesperson acknowledged the shopper enjoyment, while the freezer's symphony serves as a poignant reminder to seek out surprising beauty in everyday life. As one expert noted, 'Listening to the world around us as music can reframe and reimagine what it means to listen.'