In what was a rather innocuous start to 2014, we here at Hillydilly refused to let the new year's lull in music releases stop us from showcasing the best new music we could uncover—it just meant we had to search harder. During this period, we continued to feature an abundance of music—most good, some great—but one day in late January, we came across a debut single from an unknown Irish musician that absolutely floored us. The artist was Eoin French (Talos), and the track in question was the extraordinary “Tethered Bones”. As the soulful electronica tantalized our senses from the very first listen, we knew that we experiencing something truly exquisite, and now, proving that it was no mere fluke, Talos is back with his brand-new single, “Bloom”, which we are thrilled to be featuring for you. It is no mistake that Talos’ website, social media pages, and press shots are all grey scale. Before a single note is heard, the stark images invoke a dark, brooding mood, acting as a visual amuse-bouche that prepares the listener for what aural feast is to follow. There was indubitably a gloomy streak introduced in “Tethered Bones”, surely, but it's this latest single here in which Talos explores the darker depths of his musical composition. A delicate falsetto over a minimally echoed piano arrangement is all that welcomes us in the opening bars of “Bloom”. Sustaining for the next two minutes, French’s incredible voice is the only thing that pierces the moody hue before we're suddenly hit with menacing synths and prominent percussion that's a hint of industrial influence. As with his debut single, this almost jarring change of direction demonstrates exceptional skill on Talos' behalf, playing with expectation and convention to produce music that is truly remarkable. You can grab “Bloom” for yourself when it is released digitally and as a 12" vinyl with "Tethered Bones" on December 1st through Feel Good Lost. For now, stream it below.
Talos