Aphex Twin - "Matchsticks"

A long time ago, I decided that I wanted to take my meager Halloween yard display to the next level. I wanted to build more detailed props including coffins and tombstones. I thought more about lighting effects and the use of color. And I wanted to add to the overall creepy feel of the display through the use of music. No more silly "spooky sounds" cassettes (although they ARE still really fun!), I wanted to take the display from fun to deadly serious...

It was at about this time that I discovered the dark ambient genre. I happened upon my wife's CD collection, where she recommended Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Volume II. I dropped the disc in the player and was absolutely amazed by what I heard. Tracks that were more akin to background sounds without any lyrics of identifiable repeats. And so much creepy atmosphere! I instantly knew that audio like this would make a perfect backdrop to my display. It added an unsettling soundtrack that would lay "behind" the visuals of the display without overwhelming or drawing attention away from the main focus.

I ended up grabbing six tracks from the Apex Twin CD to make my first "display soundtrack playlist." Every track a haunting, atmospheric cut to instill fear and unease in the trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

And since that time, I have continued to refine things throughout my display, including the audio portion. I continue to discover new artists and tracks from the dark ambient genre, and use them in the display.

But every October I still go back to that original playlist to revisit those memories. And every time I hit play on this track, the one that begins that original playlist, I still get a sly smile and a jolt across my belly as it transports me back. Matchsticks will always be an important piece of Highbury history and will always be in my October playlist.

Take a listen and enjoy.

  

Aphex Twin - "Matchsticks"

About 15 years ago, I was looking for something besides my "Chamber of Horrors" spooky sounds tape to use as a soundtrack for my haunt. I had established a name for the haunt, I had begun making my own tombstones and props, and I was now looking to take my audio to the next level as well. I wanted to find something truly creepy...

By pure luck, Mrs. Highbury pointed me toward a CD that she had in her collection, Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Vol. II. I pressed play and was amazed at what I heard.

At that point I had never heard anything from the dark ambient genre before, but I knew instantly that it would work perfectly for my haunt display. Creepy, atmospheric audio that would sit in the background, greatly enhancing the haunting unease of the display.

I have since gone on to use even darker, more discordant audio from various dark ambient artists for my display, but I always make it a point to stop and listen to this one every Halloween. It's now forever tied to the season and those fun, early days of my home haunt.

Enjoy!

 

Aphex Twin - "Matchsticks"

When I first discovered the dark ambient music genre and its subsequent use in my home haunt display, it was—of all places—in my wife's CD collection.

Buried in with all of her other CDs that I never thought too highly of, was an obscure double-CD by some band that I had never heard of called Aphex Twin.

And I hate to admit it, but she was the one who first told me to listen to it, saying it had a creepy sound that would tie-in to the Halloween season.

So I popped the Selected Ambient Works, Vol. 2 CD into the player and pushed "play."

The audio that came through those speakers ABSOLUTELY floored me. I immediately fell in love with the hauntingly dark atmospheric sounds unlike anything I had really heard before. I listened to that CD for the rest of the night, amazed at what I was hearing...

And then it hit me. These tracks would make the perfect audio backdrop for my haunt display! No traditionally-structured songs, no immediately recognizable instruments and no vocals. The music would sit "behind" the display, serving only to add an incredible element of tension and creepiness to the visual elements.

I ended up using 6 different tracks from that Aphex Twin release for my display that year, and those tracks were used again for the following 3 or 4 years. It was the first time that I had really focused on the audio aspect of my haunt and what a truly good soundtrack could do to enhance the overall haunt experience.

Every Halloween season, I still go back and listen to that original 6-song playlist. And every time I do, I hear the first note of the first song and I get an incredibly warm, nostalgic feel. The track Matchsticks was the first track used and it is still one of my favorite dark ambient tracks of all time.

So take a walk down the Highbury Cemetery memory lane and enjoy Matchsticks by Aphex Twin.

Aphex Twin - "Matchsticks"

Aphex Twin was my first introduction to the incredible sounds of "darker" ambient and its perfect fit for use in my Halloween yard haunt soundtrack. After using a novelty Halloween cassette during the first years of my display, I came upon 1994's Selected Ambient Works, Vol 2 in my wife's CD collection. Upon first listen, I was blown away by the darkness and cold of the tracks. Like nothing I had heard before. I immediately knew that this would be the atmospheric audio to use in order to take my haunt to the next level.

I still listen to this frequently, and every time I hear this particular track, I'm reminded of the progression of my haunt through the years and the expansion of my musical tastes and influences. 

   
Halloween Weather Forecast Update:

Continuing to improve, but I'll remain cautiously optimistic for now.


  

Yard Haunt Soundtrack

Sound is a very important piece in your yard haunt. It is an integral part of setting the right tone. In our early years, we simply played an off-the-shelf "scary haunted house sounds" cassette tape, but as we have progressed, we have found much better options to take the creep factor to the next level.

I just created a playlist on our youtube channel for the soundtrack we use in the cemetery every Halloween night. I know there are a few of you who find ambient tracks to work best in your haunt and we couldn't agree more. All tracks are from Aphex Twin's 1994 release, Selected Ambient Works, Vol. 2. I found this CD in my wife's collection 6 years ago and we've been using the selected tracks ever since.

Click here to listen to an ambient yard haunt masterpiece by Aphex Twin. Enjoy! Only 20 days to go!!