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Released on Hood Faire (Cassette, Vinyl, Digital), the sibling record label of Folklore Tapes, Aesthesis is the debut release of Thorn Wych, an instrument maker and musician based in the Lancashire town of Bacup. From her backyard workshop, she makes instruments from the branches of UK native trees, especially Wych Elm, Lime, Wild Cherry, Oak, and Yew. She records these bowed string instruments, flutes and percussion at home and then loops and contorts them through effect pedals to create some of the most unexpected music, made in a world cut off from our own…an earthy and ancient-sounding form of off-grid music.
Auld Hunt resembles the long drones of Tibetan ritual music crossed with the ancient folk sound of Epirus. Her singing, especially on Ramble in the Brambles, is wonderfully universal sounding, like an amalgamation of tribal music that restlessly flutters East then West.
While there are wonderful traditional-sounding touchstones across this release, it’s also a uniquely individual sound that sits well alongside the likes of Milkweed’s Folklore 1979 release for its equally invigorating and engaging approach.
