Between the Ears is an experimental BBC coverage which creatively conveys stories through sound. One such piece covers the hidden sounds of coastal arcades through the use of recordings, interviews and musical composition.
The piece starts with sounds of laughter captured, used to reflect the bustling atmosphere of the idyllic setting-here being Walton Pier. This is immediately followed by the sound of guests playing on familiar slot machines and the elated joy that occurs after winning some coins. This use of sound technique is clever as it enables the listener to tune in and through this method a clear image can be envisioned in the mind of the listener.
Immediately after more sounds are brought in, such as the electromagnetic hum produced by the machines, and the auditory example of a score counter delivered by the arcade machine, accompanied by a bit of musical interlude of a futuristic tinny sound, reminiscent of a sci-fi programme which blends well. Perhaps to show how an arcade may be seen through the mind of a child, as a place of amazed wonder, entertainment and familiar warmth. As part of the interview there’s a quote to reflect this as a visitor states ‘I feel like a little kid!’
This use of auditory media to form a picture has been experimented a few times in art, the most notable example used not just for an artistic piece but serving as a scientific field on how the cerebral cortex of the brain picks up pictures and emotions from the power of sound alone. The art piece in question called ‘everywhere at the end of time’ which expresses a slow decay of time through music which progressively gets more broken as it goes along, till it finishes in a white noise with only the slightest trace of the original music.
Between the Ears takes this art form to deliver their findings in this particularly example to create a statement on how important seaside coastal arcades are to the staples of a British seaside experience and it’s servings in tradition. From another snippet of interview this is showcased by a jolly exclaim ‘as you walk down the pier slope you knew where you were straight away because all rides have a particular noise’.
Other memories from the pier were shared such as the sounds of a speedway and the waves and whirls of a waltzer. At this point the musical composition cleverly imitates the sound of the familiar ride, merged with the excited squeals from those on it.
These mix of different auditory techniques used throughout effectively highlights the assault of sense, particularly sound, that is expected in the atmosphere of coastal arcades that it documents and therefore makes it an interesting piece to sit down and buckle up to bring yourself into a world of escapist art.
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