Imagine walking home alone through some deserted, industrial area. A distant drone makes you aware of some presence, but nothing tangible. You think you are alone — but really, are you?
The sound of cans blowing down the street give an edge. The drone increases in intensity and bells start chuckling, calling for reinforcements but there is nothing obvious, just a nagging sensation that something is amiss. The bells have a lovely tone and could be anywhere. They can’t mean harm but they sound as though they are being dragged, the tone changing as you move through the streets.
A horn sounds, reminiscent of a hunting horn, a single forlorn note that could mean anything but it grows in volume and draws nearer. It has an Eastern tone that is particularly attractive but should you be judging the tone or looking out for whoever is blowing it?
There are long breaths from which a voice now appears, groaning and uneven, grating against the relentless background drone. It sounds like a creature shackled with bells, moving, becoming more agitated but muffled, as though the mouth were covered. The bells continue on their trajectory as the voice becomes clearer, a guitar is struck and resonates dolefully. The voice reacts against this and becomes more deranged and frustrated, turning to an impotent howl.
You only have to rewind the cassette to discover if it is real…
-Mr Olivetti-
