Hands up those who reckon they know five of music's? greatest historical moments and technological innovations?



Yeah Yeah I know, they'll be the usual suspects, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dr Moog, the creator of the synthesiser, the developers of the Dolby Sound Reduction System and quite possibly amongst the great guitarists of history we will see the usual names, Hendrix, Clapton and BB King amongst others but how about taking a slightly different approach?

How about the creator of acoustic foam and soundproofing?

Now this is a bit of a trick question in many ways as foam rubber has been around in a number of different guises and has actually been around for quite some time.

Now before you all start thinking that I've totally lost the plot and stop laughing and snickering at the back of the class because there is actually a serious side to this. So as the great British comedian Frankie Howard would say ?titter ye not?

Now the logic behind this inspired line of thinking goes along the line of, it doesn't matter who you are and what you have, you would never make the maximum usage out of it if you are suffering from permanent sleep deprivation.

OK I may be appearing to be slightly off the wall here (ho ho pun intended) but there is logic behind all of this. OK in the annals of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame etc then Acoustic Foam is hardly the most glamorous and sexy of products but along with Marshall amplification and SSL Recording Desks I bet there isn't a recording studio anywhere in the world that is not packed to the rafters with some form of noise reduction system.

Enter stage left Acoustic Foam.

The bottom line here is that it doesn't matter how good your music is, how talented the band or singers are, if you can't get your music out to the people then you might as well not be there.

As I said, at this point, enter stage left, Acoustic Foam.

Most recording studios in the world are located within some forms of urban location. OK I know there are the exceptions that prove the rule etc like Compass Point, Nassau, George Martin's former place at Montserrat before the Volcano kindly caused them to move (proof if ever there was needed that foam rubber can't solve everything) and Virgins Manor Studios but by and large most studios are located in the mist of urban sprawls.

Take London for instance, you have Air Studios in Oxford Street, You used to have (if it is still there) Virgins Townhouse studios in Goldhawk Road and of course EMI's grand old lady of them all, Abbey Road Studios in?..Abbey Road.

Now, how long do you think these places would have lasted if they had succeeded in permanently annoying the neighbours? About five minutes I reckon knowing some of the neighbours that these places have and so noise reduction is right up there with a decent recording deck.

So folks, if you have finished laughing. I reckon that Acoustic Foam that makes the largest part of internal noise reduction systems is pretty vital?

I rest my case.

Thank you and good night