Establishing the mood with a layered meditative frequency, Whilom opens Third State with celestial notions of immersion and subtle water textures as the soundscape builds with cerebral percussion nuances.
The opus expands into choral vocals with industrial drums and a dramatic overarching energy. We are moved by the high emotional quotient and the spiritual depth of the piece. There is no doubt that Third State would be perfect for the score of an iconic film – perhaps a Sofia Coppola production, a pivotal scene in a Darren Aronofsky movie or Lars Von Trier‘s Melancholia.
We then experience a stripped-back moment with an atmospheric spoken word monologue from Skiddler as she says, “Out there, in here, in key lakes, star-pocked skies, suspended, existing, from one to one to none…”
This invites universal reflection with poetic prowess, cementing the cosmic and existential notions of the score. The soundtrack rebuilds with the textured, industrial drums and almost operatic vocals, evoking drama and emotion. Speaking on the release, Whilom confesses, “The track speaks of a titular ‘third state’ between life and death. One tends to get more philosophical about life and indeed death as one gets older, and death becomes more of a reality in a number of ways.”
We deeply connect with the euphoric and anthemic energy that comes to fruition with Third State. The spiritual vibes are tangible, and we are indeed invited to reflect on life, death, and all that is in between. Whilom cites Boards of Canada, and Slowdive as sonic influences, although there is no doubt that he is bringing to life a conscious sonic universe unto his own design. It is no surprise that he has already received recent airplay on Stuart Maconie‘s influential BBC Radio 6 programme, Freakzone, and is already selling out shows!
We have added Third State to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Whilom, including the entirety of his 2025 album, True Are The Nightmares.