Review: Hello, Friend – Wilfred

Cork electronic artist, Wilfred is back with their third release and first in almost a year, with new EP, Hello, Friend.

Words by Jack Squibb

Hello, Friend is like a new face of Wilfred, almost as if he’s unveiling himself to us. A new side not yet heard before, on previous releases there’s uplifting moments and soft tones. After a year away, Wilfred shows a darker, more somber side to his sound.

The EP saw the artist enter a more experimental mindset, playing with synthesisers and to create a collection of songs “one can listen to in their bedroom with the lights off, as opposed to dance floor orientated music”.

Wilfred creates an almost hypnotic aura with Hello, Friend. Drawing you in with the strings arrangement layered under synths on ‘Inhabit’ to the title track creating a nervous energy as the static crackles through with the mystifying sounds.

As a hat-tip to the Rami Malek hit show, Mr. Robot, the Cobh musician named the title track, ‘Hello, Friend’. After realising the similarities to the score for the show during post-production.

Wilfred, AKA Conor Walsh, has definitely struck the angle he was aiming for, creating a collection of songs made for a late-night walk, or for unwinding in a dimly-lit room. The way ‘Fracture’ unfolds over the course of 9 and a half minutes, whirring with gentle synths and repetitive effect of someone mumbling is soothing in a unique manner.

Out now, it’s an EP worthy of turning the lights down, zoning out and pressing play.

Verdict: 6/10

Tracks worth putting on repeat: ‘Hello, Friend’ and ‘Fracture’