As a muse, Gojogo has chosen an unlikely subject: the ruins of military batteries that dot the Golden Gate. Armed from the Civil War through the Cold War, these armored fortresses were never used in combat, and yet they harbor enough history to be preserved as monuments. Now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, they are slowly being reclaimed by earth and elements. They are strange, out-of-place sites to visit. Gojogo is fascinated not only by their past but by the odd sound world these abandoned castles embody. The empty brick and mortar barracks contain vast echo chambers that transform everyday sounds into otherworldly music. As part of their composition process, Gojogo will visit various batteries and record resonations in the space. These recorded samples will be blended with Gojogo’s instrumentation on pieces throughout the album. In this way, Gojogo will include the space itself in an album that explores its history and transformed existence.
Built for use in World War II, Battery Wallace features an enormous gun chamber in which sound reverberates for several seconds. Such a space is irresistible for Gojogo's recording project.
Just down the road from Battery Wallace, visitors can experience a missile launch simulation at the Nike Missile site. Armed for the Cold War, these batteries could launch an 80 foot missile in less than one minute's notice. The missile could travel 100 miles in 35 seconds. Even the demonstration is a hair-raising experience.
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