156 – Frontyard/Backyard C30

Acid Casualty Productions

This tape presents a very strange sound indeed. I am not familiar with the works of this NYC-based artist but Frontyard/Backyard is quite clearly based off of many field recordings from various areas. I might assume they are from around the artist’s living space. That said, editing is very seamless yet also quite jarring in the recording’s contrasting atmospheres.

The tape alternates between more raw/unedited excerpts of field recordings and other recordings of sound effects type material like junk sounds, scrap metal, and even sounds that are quite abstract – but still have the home sampled feel to them. It’s an intriguing and sometimes jarring juxtaposition. One example of a strange convergence is when quick edits are made between inner city banter and more industrial sounds. I feel like there is a statement being made here, but I don’t think I am quite getting it.

Side B is a step in a yet even more abstract direction. I like the movement in this direction as I feel that 156 creates and finds some excellent sounds of this quality and edits them in ways that perplex and mesmerize. The only thing that feels like it’s missing from the composition is that certain midway point transitioning between the more concrete sounds and the abstract sounds. Another way to say this is that the editing is sometimes too choppy for me, I’d like to hear more flowing and morphing rather than cut-up editing and I think it would add more to the atmosphere and characteristics that I believe the artist is going for.

Enough criticism though. Taking Frontyard/Backyard for what it is I find it quite enjoyable and odd. It reminds me much of the early work of Hoor-Paar-Kraat. Interesting work with a lot of potential here.

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