My Sound of Recession

So what is the sound of recession? Economic decline can have a huge impact on our soundscapes, both in the private and public domain.

As I have said in previous posts, my home is a quieter place, as a half finished development stands incomplete across from my window. Apart from the occasional roar and crash of glass falling from one of the windows it is largely mute.

So to are the shops that lay empty, stripped of the clanging cash registers and music that filled them, the hum of the lights and electricity, the chatter of their workforce and the bustle of commerce.

When I think of recession though, quiet barely comes into it. The sounds of chaos, confusion and clutter come to mind as representations of the effect on peoples lives; their state of mind in a time when jobs are lost, businesses collapse and property loses its value.

I think of those who will be most effected by cuts in public spending and services, how changes that have a small effect on some lives can tip others into despair. The repossessions, violence and pain spurned from debts which cannot be met. Stress, anger and helplessness.

But then there are the scratches of hope amongst chaos. Sheds of light through the cracks of a broken machine. The building of new rhythms, struggling together and edging apart, colliding awkwardly in often false dawns.

The piece below, "Hope Amongst Chaos", is a conceptual interpretation of the sound of recession. It was created using the sounds of malfunctioning machinery and skipping records to symbolise a faltering economic system, the stuttering effect it can have on people's lives and the glimmers of hope and opportunity that emerge amongst the chaos.



The quality isn't great here. For a clearer sound you can listen at http://myspace.com/sonicaffective or send me a message and I'll send you a higher quality CD.

The Sound of Recession

So what is the sound of recession?

Economic decline can have a major impact on our soundscapes, both in the private and public environment. I know that in a way the recession has made my home a quieter place, as a half finished development stands untouched just a few meters from my window. The sound of workmen, banging metal and sawing wood are all absent, replaced just by the gentle flapping in the wind of the plastic sheeting that hangs from the roof.

I am currently undertaking research into how the current recession has affected the sounds of our lives and would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Is your life quieter because of the slowing of construction? Has a new job or unemployment bought about new sounds? Are once bustling streets now deserted and quiet? Does an increased consciousness of money lead you toward different activities with different soundscapes?

I would be really grateful to hear about any of your thoughts and experiences around the subject, so to tell me your stories, or for more information about the project, please email me at envirosonic@live.co.uk or just leave a comment below.

thanks
Carl