By Justin Smulison
Post-metal instrumentalists Telepathy are back with their first album in five years, Transmissions. Released by Pelagic Records, the UK-based quartet embraced synths and keys (in moderation) on this outing, along with real public broadcasting clips, in order to reach new cinematic heights.
One of the lead singles, “Augury” embodies the focus on the cinematic texture and narrative depth afforded by synthesizers. A six-minute epic, the fluid halftime groove propels plaintive guitar and synth arpeggios into exciting, uncharted territory as Telepathy’s signature use of found sound and audio samples declare that “the answer lies in the future.”
I first became aware of Telepathy in early 2020 as they were readying Burn Embrace. That album was a cacophonic triumph, and – when you consider the onset of the pandemic – fittingly served as music that reflected (or predicted) society’s need to embrace distancing and isolation for the preservation’s sake.
Transmissions seems to take an opposite approach. The addition of the audio samples and synth to the template of doom- and sludge-laced post-metal sends a message of music that will feed on communication.
The band has a headline show at London’s The Black Heart on April 17 to celebrate the release of Transmissions and will follow with a brief run through EU (posted dates are Leipzig, Germany on May 6 and Berlin on May 7).
I recently spoke with guitarist Richard Pawley about my takeaways from the album, as well as what it’s like to connect with audiences in-person and when they listen remotely, while playing such intense, instrumental music.
Let’s initiate Transmissions!
Song clips: “Augury,” “Oath,” “End Transmission”
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