If you can stop the cascading thoughts in your head for a while and tune into the sounds around you then you might notice that life is a disorderly symphony of rhythm and notes. For the avid field recordist capturing sounds can be a lifelong obsession, and for some artists, a rich source of inspiration for their music. Neil Stringfellow is one such sonic collector, and under the name Audio Obscura he gives us immersive and compelling albums like his new release, Acid Field Recordings In Dub.
If the name Audio Obscura is inspired by a camera obscura, then a sonic equivalent of the camera lens’ graphical perspective is wholly apt; gathering all the sound information and focusing it through the mix of each track. Stringfellow says, “I’ve been sound recording for about 12 years now and have a good archive of sounds.. and simply enjoy just listening and capturing the audio world. Over the years I’ve learned to really listen to the everyday soundscapes and as such I no longer walk down the street listening to a personal stereo, the world can often be more exciting than music.”
The dawn chorus in Lowestoft, the bounce of a broom on a street cleaners cart paraphrasing the echo of a dub track’s snare, wind in trees, and a post-op painkiller haze all coalesced to give Stringfellow the blueprint for how he saw Acid Field Recordings In Dub being brought to life. The collage of field recording and dub-vibes works exceptionally well and there are times when it’s hard to tell what is field recording and what is electronically generated with the gentle tunes drifting in and out melding perfectly with the natural sounds.
Some of the more ambient tracks such as ‘The Last Day Of August Felt Like The First Day Of Autumn’ have a genuine beauty with keyboard pops playing against the sound of children playing; a synthesised beat like a constant breath, and subtly shifting sound washes creating a wistful peace.
The pastoral beauty of ‘The Last Day of August…’ and the susurrating dub of ‘Hollowlands’, with its sorrowful Melodica (played by Simon McCorry) floating over the rain and wind made these two tracks the standouts on the album.
I would advise listening through headphones to get the full immersive experience as it will allow you to luxuriate in this kaleidoscope of found and fashioned sounds as they swirl around you. The restraint on the album is the key, giving everything the space to breath and allow you to become entangled in its blissful sonic miasma.
Audio Obscura socials: Bandcamp | X (Twitter) | BlueSky
Review by Paul F Cook
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