Breaking from the strange monotony and abnormal norms that took hold during two years of pandemic life, Hammock returns with "Love in the Void", an album that looks to the future, seizes the present, and unabashedly relishes the experiences and bonds that bring meaning to our days. Known for crafting orchestral works of stirring cinematic ambience, on "Love in the Void" the Nashville-based duo of Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson bring guitar-forward, heart-pounding urgency to songs that shout through and shatter the static of complacency.
Since forming as Hammock in 2003, Byrd and Thompson have released 11 critically-acclaimed albums, and are renowned for their unique talent for bringing inexpressible emotion to life. The Covid-19 pandemic followed closely after one of Hammock’s career-defining works, the Mysterium, Universalis, and Silencia trilogy that chronicled the incomprehensible loss of Byrd’s 20-year-old nephew. At their homes and apart, Byrd and Thompson then recorded Elsewhere, an album of shimmering ambience that channeled alienated longing and displacement into avenues that gave way to worlds and possibilities yet realized.
Shaken awake and needing to break free of frustrations and longings, "Love in the Void" pulses with an unbridled spirit for action and experience and a burning desire for connection. Across songs that hammer home the keenly felt emotions of life’s highs and lows, Byrd and Thompson crest soaring crescendos awash in reverb and delve to keenly felt moments of quiet introspection, with unflinching lyrics on tracks like “Undoing” and “Denial of Endings'' that weigh choices made and circumstances that can’t be changed. Lush and dramatic string orchestration from Matt Kidd (Slow Meadow) and emphatic drumming from Jake Finch heighten the stakes in play, and Christine Byrd’s (Lumenette) ethereal vocals leave mysteries lingering in the haze.
"Love in the Void" is Hammock’s loudest album to date, embracing daring and vulnerability with palpable vitality at its core. Wide-eyed and looking forward, "Love in the Void" moves into an unknown future without fear. -Wyatt Marshall
released January 27, 2023
Video for "Love in the Void" Directed by David Altobelli:
youtu.be/YYOyT_mwgsc
Additional Direction
Andrew Bruntel, Eli Born, Elliott Sellers, Emilio Valasquez, Jessica Calleiro, Kevin Phillips, Kyle Garrity, Miyagger, Noah Dillon, Taylor Cohen
Featured Artists
Ashutosh Sonwana, Daniel Torobekov, Kelly M Lacy, Phillip Kapadia, Julio Lopez G, Phil Maher, Mikhail Nilov, Uzonov Rostislav
Additional footage from the project Beru "Forgiveness is Supernatural" used with permission from its directors, Andrew Bruntel and Kevin Phillips.
Video for "Release" Directed by David Altobelli:
youtu.be/vTaBX_FoGWk
Directed By
David Altobelli
Additional Direction
Kyle Garrity, Marcus Soriano, Noah Dillon, Chandler Lucy, Ben Tan, Ethan Feldbau, Larkin Seiple, Bailey Garcia, Kevin Phillips, Andrew Bruntel, Justin Brown, Alex Amoling, Jessica Calleiro, Elliott Sellers, Jason Baum, Jeff Desom, Kevin Abstract, Michael Uzowuru, Luis Panch Perez, Mel Myland, Gabe Plaza, Jonah Wallach
Starring
Ashlan Gray, Kevin Abstract, Ben Tan, Alexis Felix, Jackson White, Gavin Hewitt, Noah Dillon, Isaiah, Alex Roe, Kyle Velasco, Johnny Yukon, Lilah Summer, Teo Halm, Pinky, Thaddeus Rex, Austin Anderson, Satchel Freiberger-Innskeep, Noah Yesa, Ashland Anderson, Malik Shakur, Gabe Plaza, Eddie Liaboh, Sydney Buchan, Noah Kentis, James Cox, Dagsen Love, Lilliah Scarlet, Baby J, Josh Varnedore, Evan Tan, Chandler Lucy, Bailey Garcia, Jessica Calleiro, Jordan Thomas, Sam Tan, Louis Licata, Dan Stangl, Priscilla Robinson, Brian Moore, Finnigan Barrett, Cruz Angelo, Damon Rush, Nico Hiraga, 070 Shake, Emilio Velasquez, Noah Telem, West Adler, Taylor Snook
All songs written & performed by Marc Byrd & Andrew Thompson except “Gods Becoming Memories” written by Marc Byrd, Andrew Thompson & Matt Kidd
Drums & Percussion by Jake Finch
Additional Synths by Chad Howat
Piano, additional Keys, & Tape-mangled Oddities by Matt Kidd
Angelic Vocals by Christine Byrd (Lumenette)
String Arrangements: Matt Kidd
Violin and Viola: Ellen Story
Recorded at Trace Horse Studio, Studio 37, Breathturn & The Shed
Engineered by Scottie Prudhoe & Preston Cochran
Additional engineering: Chad Howat & Jake Finch
Strings recorded by Matt Kidd at Meadowland
Produced by Marc Byrd, Andrew Thompson & Chad Howat
Mixed by Chad Howat at The Bloom Room
Mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound
Artwork & creative direction by Zach McNair
Photography by Eric Ryan Anderson
Management by Johnny Pleasant
(c)(p) 2022 Hammock Music
Published by Mazarine (Administration by Warner Chappell)