image courtesy of Unsung Hunger

EP Review of Thool: Cwmcerwyn (PRAH Recordings)

I enjoy music from a wide variety of musical style, but this is a subgenre that doesn’t grab me nearly as often as music from other categories. Sometimes there’s something special that can cross genre lines and reach fans of other styles; in this case, me. And when I hear something I really dig in a style I don’t often listen to, you know I’m gonna share it with you!

Thool is a longtime UK-based electronic music duo whose music is interesting, engaging, and structured with enough direction that it remains fresh throughout multiple listens. For me, that’s usually a key element if I’m going to really enjoy electronic music. The album Cwmcerwyn is an interesting instrumental electronic release – I mean, there are actually words occasionally, but they’re mostly unintelligible, always buried deep in the mix, and not really lyrics, so yeah, this is an instrumental album.

image courtesy of Unsung Hunger

Album-opener “Cwmcerwyn,” the title track, buzzes, thumps, and squeaks along, progressing through softer spots and more prominent rhythms to form a satisfying listen. It’s the EP’s longest track, clocking in at nearly 7 minutes, which I only really mention because longer songs can begin to feel repetitive, but again, “Cwmcerwyn” does not; rather, it takes an interesting, progressive journey. Meanwhile, as much as “Cwmcerwyn” is more meandering, second track “Gwin Priseli” is built upon a steadier, rather dancefloor-worthy beat. Indeed, this is a song I could imagine hearing thumping away at a nightclub.

Next, “Waun Maun” takes a more mid-tempo approach, though with some nifty sound effects late that might be a spaceship taking off. “Magellanic Gloom” has a funky bass rhythm underpinning its recurring beat and varied musical experimentation, which, again, isn’t unusual for electronic music, but Thool is great at varying it enough to maintain interest while still tying it together into a cohesive song, with each song notably different from the others. And the final track, “Helpful Realm,” while a little more grounded in a prominent rhythm than more soaring numbers, would still fall largely into that category, though it really seems to build toward the end, combining several interesting sound patterns. Basically, a cool way to end the EP.

On the whole, for those who like to dabble in a broad playlist but for whom electronic music isn’t a staple – well, that would include me – this could be a nice addition to your collection, something you’ll enjoy spinning when you’re in the mood. I won’t attempt to speak for hardcore fans of this genre, though I imagine if I’m drawn to the uniqueness of Thool’s Cwmcerwyn, perhaps you’ll find it interesting, original, and unique, too.