Thomas Ligotti — The Bungalow House
Told in the first person, The Bungalow House follows the narrator's discovery of an interesting recording at a local art gallery. Mysteriously delivered, their content captures the narrator's interest so vigorously that the chilling tales, or "dream monologues," practically consume him. Desperate to find more, he arranges a meeting with the artist through Darla, the art gallery proprietor. Wholly consumed, the narrator must find more and must meet with the artist. However, the meeting with the artist reveals more about the narrator than was expected, and The Bungalow House ends with a delightfully bizarre finish.
Thomas Ligotti is inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, so it's not surprising that The Bungalow House has moments that are very reminiscent of the Lovecraft's work. Striking a similar chord to The Music of Erich Zann (ha!), The Bungalow House's narrator's obsession with another's work has taken over his waking moments. The payoff is completely different, but there is a similar vibe throughout. Ligotti's descriptions on display during the "dream monologues" hearken to a classic, chilling horror, and are written in such a way to evoke terror and revulsion without being over the top and vile.
Cadabra's latest is another in a long string of well done spoken art releases. Their production of The Bungalow House combines a passionate reading, an evocative score, and fantastic packaging. Proving once again that they're a juggernaut, Cadabra's newest is another home run.