Jacob T. Swinney for Fandor's Keyframe takes a look at the ambient sounds in the films of David Lynch:

What are these sounds?  Where are they coming from?  Are these noises heard by the characters?  Like most Lynch related queries, maybe these are better left unexplained.  Here is a quick showcase of a variety of sounds that create the Lynchian ambience.


Sound can be a truly powerful tool when used correctly, and Lynch's films are littered with odd noises that never quite let us have a moment of silence. It's this technique that keeps us from ever having a satisfying moment, as we're always trying to navigate around strange humming or hissing, even when the images on-screen are rather mundane. 

Source: Fandor