Slaughtering Dolphins is the drone/noise concern of Oakland-based knob-turner, Collin McKelvey. On “Lift Me Out”, a c-24 put out on his own Beach House label, McKelvey nullifies his blissful impulses by ratcheting up the doom aura.

The first side opens with “Drifting Seeking” which features a higher frequency synth drone that periodically crests or cuts-out, at times feeling a bit haphazard. Some indistinct tones reverberate underneath the surface, building to more massive bursts of sound. The second track “Circle My Eyes” is based around a hypnotic pulsing tone. Huge, low end swells up the spook factor considerably, finding SD sounding a bit like a garage version of Deathprod.

The track “Learn to Speak Through This” fills out the entirety of the second side. Here, a multitude of low and high-end frequencies lobby for space amidst the
static-y, helicopter-like sounds. As the decibel level mounts, it feels as though the whole piece is going to implode.

If the last two tracks of this cassette are any indication, then this is clearly a project to keep an eye on. Lock up those tuna nets. 6/10 -- David Perron (11 November, 2009)