Camp of Wolves - Planetar

Released: February 24

Released on the fantastic Subexotic Records, David Salisbury's latest album is a slowly evolving and heartfelt spacefaring adventure. Rather than focus on the more slick and futuristic elements of space travel, Salisbury takes great measures to focus on the very human elements of such a proposition - the isolation, loneliness, the feeling of leaving things behind. The true emotional cost of travelling far from home takes center stage in a symphonically themed album that heavily utilizes elements of drone music. 

Much of the album contains a sense of foreboding and a quiet anxiety. From the very first track ,"Ascent," we are given this feeling with swells and chords that feel unresolved and uneasy while maintaining a sense of composure. It is almost as if our traveler is staring upwards and he reaches the heavens with a stoic face but a heart full of discomfort. It is only once we get to the final track in the album "Atmosphere" that this sense of uneasiness abates slightly. To me, this track sounded like our traveler finally making it to his destination and feeling some sense of relief. However, that sense of relief is not quite complete as there is still some undertone of fear and wistfulness that can't be alleviated entirely. It marks a bittersweet ending to a rather emotional journey.