When playing pass-the-parcel today at The Oxford Bluestockings Xmas party, I was struck by the different sonic qualities of various types of wrapping paper.
The foil papers have an almost tinny quality; a kind of treble, high-pitch (relatively!) rustle with a metallic twang. The brown or duller papers tend to make buckling, woody, more bassy sounds; tissue paper is a whispering rustle & there are many other paper noises, besides.
This entry to SOUND BANK reminds me of two things. Firstly, it reminds me of an amazing recording that Kayla made at Paperworld in Brighton for the Fantastical Reality Radio Show in association with Mundane Appreciation, (I think it’s show 2.) The piece was Mundane Appreciation’s ‘Meet the Expert’ and involved talking to Jean who works at Paperworld about the sounds of her workplace. There were many amazing sounds in the feature but we had to cut it right down because of the pace and timing for the show, but I remember listening to all the papery noises while I was editing and remembering that someone told me cardboard is often used by foley artists to make thunderstorm sound effects. Do me a favour and enjoy the different sounds when you unwrap your presents this Xmas!
Secondly, this entry to SOUND BANK reminds me of Lara’s old place in Headington, which is where we played our pass-the-parcel game last year. I was hoping to see Lara and Kirsty and Alice last Sunday, but since I have had swine-flu, I didn’t feel up to the journey into London. I did however enjoy reading about the party over on Alice’s blog and it filled me with cheer for parties and mince-pies and wondrous gatherings with my girlfriends for hopefully many years to come.
Hurrah for wrapping paper.
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