For those new to Hammock, they are a dynamic duo comprised of Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson from Nashville. They already have quite a substantial catalogue behind them; twelve releases strong already infact. Their previous work has managed to get them noticed by big time pedlars of cinematic ‘dreamscape rock’ Sigur Rós, who have subsequently worked together.
Kicking the whole thing off with the aptly named track ‘Procession’, the band slowly make an entrance with a slow and steady build up. It is minimal and yet conveys everything they are about all at once. Delicately played guitar melodies softly grace the listeners ears. We are transported to their kingdom. It is gradual as if guided by hand through the gates into the domain of dream. By the time one has arrived the many layers of delicate guitar and subsequent echoes surround. There are no drums yet, which just creates the most beautifully subtle sensation of suspense.
What comes next? Their album title track and it is juicy. In come the drums (which alternate somewhere between the dream-popiness of Cigaretts for Sex and certain Mogwai works in their style), in comes the distortion, and agonizingly beautiful crescendos. The melodies are haunting and soft. The slow pace coupled with the title of the track create images of longing, one heart calling out into the emptiness for another. The overall arrangement of the album is sweeping and romantic. The production quality is so delicious it is almost edible. Everything sits perfectly in the mix.
Most of the album is instrumental however the few vocals present are delicately interwoven in and out of the album, haunting and ethereal. This makes it hard to decipher if the lyrics themselves are beautiful because just the sound of them alone in the tone and the timbre are so easy to get lost in. ‘Undoing’ is worth noting as perhaps one of the most accessible tracks to those new to their brand of music. The lyrics are easy to understand. They are catchy, relatable but still ever so slightly other-worldly.
Masters of this genre have the ability to make it sound simple. It is however very apparent each note, each subtle guitar slide, each placement of a cymbal has been painstakingly thought through. ‘Love in the Void’ is said to be an album representing the highs and lows of life. Hammock go beyond that into the realms of creating landscapes for us to assess how we exist emotionally during these times. The alternation between soft lulls and luscious climaxes allow the listener moments of quiet introspection before acceptance and release.
This album is not one for ‘just popping to the shops’ to. One cannot just casually listen to Love in the Void. It demands to be listened to and appreciated in full. This album is for crying in the rain, laying back and surrendering to the weight of the human experience. It is for stargazers, lovers and most of all it is for dreamers.