Glen Porter's Falling Down: The Sound of Slowly Dying

 

Listening to the album Falling Down it is impossible not feel as though death is slowly approaching. The dark, slow, deliberate beats, like the last gasps for air, are accompanied by haunting melodies that seem almost, almost soothing. Even the album cover is deceptively unnerving, with a young girl apparently falling to her death as a shadow smiles on.

Some tracks stand out more than others, but as whole the album sets a mood, and does so beautifully, filling the air with a weighty atmosphere that invites throwing caution to the wind, as though edging closer and closer to a cliffs edge, looking over a taking it all in.

Even the faster tracks, or portions thereof relay a discordant harmonies that works to create a feeling of urgency and danger; percussion as heartbeats at the end of the line.

Each piece feels carefully constructed, with a variety of instruments and samples used to paint the its various moods. It is hard not to think you are being told a story in sounds, punctuated by limited vocals expressing, that illustrate the difficulty of being alive.

Glen Porter's work is unique, beautiful and full of emotional weight often lacking in modern musical offerings. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen, then do so again.