Multi-instrumentalist Ed Hopkins needed something to fill his time when lockdown happened, and so the group Terpsichorea was formed and right away they got started on recording their debut album Holy Fool. A nine-track collection that sees the band fusing EDM beats with space rock and unconventional instrumentation like the Hurdy-gurdy, ney, darbuka and rig. With themes about occultism, religion and spirituality, the band can come across as new-age.
Holy Fool gets started with “The Sly Man,” where synths and EDM beats come forth on this recording. Next, some new wave-like vocals enter for more of a dance vibe. Guitars come in, pushing the pulsating music forward. I was getting some space vibes on this song. Synths and keys light up the music on “Glad Day.” There is definitely a whole lot of atmosphere to this track. Slowly some beats enter for more trance and EDM vibes. The distorted vocals are evoked through tons of reverberation. Some acoustic guitar brings in an intimate sound on “Mary Jane Again.” The combined vocal harmonies provided a backdrop to the music. This was a departure from the more EDM vibes previously. The band takes on a more natural and organic course here. The electric guitars interwoven into the song were another great addition. Choral background vocals add a celestial vibe to “Pangur Ban.” As some acoustic guitar sounds out, it is joined by some distorted vocals. The dissonance gives off an off-kilter vibe to this track. I thought this was a good blend of natural and synthetic instrumentation. The band makes good use of both worlds on this song. The sound of wind instruments also lights up the sounds here for a Celtic vibe. Sounds from the Hurdy-gurdy sends out a very impactful vibe. Synths, melodic keys and beats bring in more of the band’s eclectic sounds on “Sights Unseen.” Once Hopkins’ vocals come in, he spews his vocals out in a fast-paced manner that reminded me of a rap sequence. The sounds of the sitar add to the vibe on “Imaginary Mongoose." Hopkins half-raps and half-sings the number here. I found myself enjoying the hip hop-inspired notes. On “Anima Mundi,” some wind instruments send out a very Eastern flair. The sound of percussion and programmed beats added a very lively effect to the music. On “I Tego Arcana Dei,” synths add a moody vibe as sparse guitar riffs and keys come in for a melodic pulse. The sound is meandering and takes its time in unfolding. Next, some clubbing beats arrive for a very EDM feel. The band continues to incorporate into their sounds a melding of both organic and synthetic instrumentation for a full sound. This was a colossal instrumental piece with 8:25 minutes of recording time. Last up is “Rabbit Hole,” which sees the band changing up their electronic numbers for a more intimate setting with just the acoustic guitar, vocals and synthetic strings. What comes across is an up-close-and-personal performance from Hopkins. A lot of these tracks had a ‘70s vibe to them that made them very dance-worthy. EDM rhythms alongside pulsating beats, with a dash of Celtic vibes, powerful guitars, melodic keys and more, all come together. Although a lot of their sound caters to the ‘70s and ‘80s, there was a touch of a modern twist that will speak to a lot of fans rooted in the contemporary scene today. This was a good start from the band and I look forward to seeing any new music that Terphischorea has up their sleeves in the not-so-distant future.
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