I have stumbled across your blog as a total non-gaming IT layperson, but am very interested by your posts on sound. I live in Mexico City, which in many ways is rather similar to the early modern European towns described by Garrioch… either functional noises (the knife-sharpener’s whistle, the loudspeaker “gaaaaaaaas” recording on the gas truck) or simply noise as attraction, such as in the city center where people flock just to soak up the cumbia blaring from bootleg CD stalls. Is there any chance you could pass me a copy of Garrioch’s article?