Lovecraft, H. P.: The Hound and the Music of Erich Zann

I've been reading H. P. Lovecraft for a long time; I've even published a few articles on the author, including one that addresses his influence on heavy metal music. Lovecraft currently enjoys a popularity that would likely surprise him, especially given his relatively small following while he was alive. Whereas his work was originally circulated in pulp magazines, Lovecraft is now a near-ubiquitous presence. His work influences writers, filmmakers, comic book artists, and the like. If you like Stephen King, John Carpenter, Mike Mignola, Ridley Scott, H. R. Giger, and dark artists, then you've encountered a portion of Lovecraft's enduring legacy. The internet, the wild west of human commerce, offers such fare as Cthulhu-inspired plush dolls, action figures, ski masks (complete with tentacles), bumper stickers, and much more. I could go on (and I have elsewhere), but the point is that Lovecraft has taken a place in popular culture that is both welcome and unprecedented.

Cadabra Records, the source behind the album I'm discussing, wants to take listeners on a journey of the imagination, the kind that comes through enjoying the power of spoken words. There's something special about this undertaking; it's good to listen to stories, especially when they are presented with such skill. On this recording, Andrew Leman, a veteran actor and avowed Lovecraft fan, narrates the stories with just the right amount of drama and mystery. The producers added some small musical cues to the background to highlight, here and there, key moments and to thicken the atmosphere. These touches are helpful and never detract from the listening experience.

The story selection may surprise some readers who only know the most popular tales, but neither of these recordings should be missed. "The Hound" is one of the only Lovecraft stories that actually scared me and it works perfectly as a spoken word experience. It's the first story to mention The Necronomicon and succeeds in creating an atmosphere of mystery and dread. "The Music of Erich Zann," another personal favorite, is equally effective. The story is a classic weird tale that highlights Lovecraft's belief that some horrors create such anxiety that we can only sit and listen earnestly for any uncanny and unexpected sound. The story, which features an old man and his weird viol playing, also suggests the power of music to convey Lovecraftian horror. The recording uses musical cues to highlight key moments of the tale and to build suspense. They effectively supplemented the tale and did not overwhelm the spoken words. Better still, they cued my own imagination as I wondered, once more, what that awful music really sounded like.

I enjoyed this recording as a digital download, but the vinyl version comes with some striking works of art that demand to be seen. The liner notes, also superb, were written by S. T. Joshi, easily the best known Lovecraft scholar working today. I would definitely recommend picking up a hard copy, if it's still available, instead of just putting this one on your phone.

This is the second release from Cadabra records. The first was a selection of stories by Lee Brown Coye, best known as an illustrator (including for some of Lovecraft's tales). Cadabra is planning several future releases, including "The Lurking Fear" and many others. I hope Cadabra succeeds in its efforts. I can't say how much demand there is for spoken word recordings, but the good folks at Cadabra certainly corner the market for excellence in their field.

Track Listing:
1. The Hound
2. The Music of Erich Zann

Added: February 20th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Label Facebook Page
Hits: 1429
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]