Glottalstop — Woodsmoke
Woodsmoke consists of two twenty minute, side long tracks that build and creep in exactly the fashion lonely, tomb ridden woods would. Side A starts with lapping waves and shore noise signifying your arrival to this strange, lost land. Low electronics creep into the back as you start your trek into the dense woods that lie ahead. The squeaky wheel like squeals add a sense of unease while you try to find a path or anything that signifies civilization. Much like Mirkwood, the sounds grow, deepen, and confuse, but you're already helplessly lost and moving forward makes as much sense as retreating. Is it getting darker out or are the woods just blocking out more sky? Either way, the distant animal noises don't sound friendly. At least, one hopes they're animals. Men can trap and hunt on such an advanced level. You'd better watch your step. The forest walls build and close in until you see something in the distance: a tall, conical stone structure. Your fear begins to subside as you now have some shelter. However, who built it and what unknown terror lies inside? You can't escape your fear.
If Side A is like Myst done by H.P. Lovecraft, then Side B is like The Navidson Record acting as This Old House. Your first few steps into the structure seem like a respite from the harsh, foreign wilderness, but this changes more with each step further into its ever growing interior. The space grows while the darkness within remains inexplicably suffocating. How can you be claustrophobic in what is a bewilderingly large space? The sounds of your heartbeat, footsteps, and breathing collapse in on themselves leaving you with crunch and hiss. Through the warping darkness, a voice can be heard. Is it a person or a strange radio transmission? Can you use this radio to call for help? If it is a person, will they be friend or foe? As soon as it appeared, the voice has gone, leaving you with the ever growing crunch of your own existence. To make matters worse, it seems as if this building (can a building grow like this?) is feeding on your fear. Your crunch amplifies in intensity while the darkness shimmers with suffocating, bell like reverberation. After hitting a feverish peak, it subsides, and everything seems hopeful again. This light noise seems joyful compared to the density you just passed. Clearly, this is an illusion, as the sound thins and fades, you have one flash of consciousness before realizing that you've become Woodsmoke's latest victim.
Woodsmoke is an engaging, well thought out, and well executed record. There are no dull moments and the tracks are a perfect length. If you enjoy drifting off and getting lost in a world of sound, definitely check this out. I'd be very interested in checking out what Glottalstop releases next, but I'd definitely be anxious. This is such a quality release, would the follow up compare? Alas, that's a worry for another time. For now, I'm just gonna enjoy Woodsmoke and the aural claustrophobia it unleashes.