Whyte Richardson, otherwise known by Whyte Wolf, makes wonderfully strange and almost tangible music, releasing it by the truck-load. More of an immersive experience, the complexity and story-board-like structure of Dust #77 requires you to sit down in a dark room, put your best headphones on and fully immerse yourself into this incredibly intricate album. Released in October 2019, this review is way overdue, and with an album so deserving of some attention, I implore you lot to listen; this dude and his album definitely deserves it.
The album is extremely diverse from head to toe, and with Whyte jumping from subject to subject with no trouble whatsoever, this twenty track wonder is an example of his expertise. Each track delves into matters that probably wouldn’t even cross your mind otherwise, and manages to do this in a way that pushes you into each universe before pulling you straight back out again; just in time for the next adventure.
Unapologetically wonky, and strikingly innovative, Whyte Wolf explores an array of subjects, story-lines, and musical techniques; the entire album a blend of electronica, funk, and just pure sound. Though this twenty-track wonder is thoroughly enjoyable throughout, there are a few gems in particular that just stuck out to me.
Dulux Intercourse is a beautiful four-minute nugget that perfectly incapsulates an out-of-body experience, all the while still being totally enjoyable for outsiders who may not have had a similar experience. Although similar to PsychExp BETA, this track is accompanied by a steady rock-like drumbeat and a hammering synth that encompasses you alongside it on this psychedelic journey. Bred through a simple chat with his best mate, Whyte explores themes of psychedelia and glitch-electronica; keeping it musically pleasant and effortless throughout.
Paper Crane is definitely one to be listened to with headphones, trust me. The gentle yet persistent hi-hat rhythm pans from left to right, almost going around your head, whilst arpeggiated synth bounces from corner to corner — this song is slow starting, but worth the wait. The concept behind this ten-minute tune is what interests me the most, as Whyte Wolf was so helpful to explain:
“Imagine a paper crane, beautifully folded and left on a window ledge at night. The window opens and the crane is blown out. There's a light rain and the crane lands in a small stream of water that's running down the side of a street in a neon soaked city. As the crane swims along the rain gets heavier as over time more and more origami cranes join as it drifts along. Eventually they join a delta and are washed out to sea before taking flight. There's a piece of Japanese folklore that states if anyone folds 1000 paper cranes they are given a wish. But what if 1000 paper cranes found each other after being lost, and wished simply to be alive.”
After that soothing and hopeful journey it’s time for a little bit of a wonky one, and this next track certainly delivers just that. Joe Woodhead’s Wonderful Wonky Whistle While He Dreams Of Being A Peacock’s Beak, besides being an impossibly long tongue-twister of a name, is most probably my favourite out of all twenty tracks, and ends way too quickly every time.
A jumble of notes placed in exactly the right order, paired with a buoyant yet steady beat makes for a very fun listen, and I can’t help but bounce along with it. A track dedicated entirely to Whyte’s best friends way of moving about, Joe Woodhead’s Wonderful Wonky Whistle is no doubt an infectious and delightful ditty that demands attention.
Although each track tells a completely different story, they all weave in and out of each other; eventually coming together into the beautifully produced album we’re listening to now. Equal parts haunting and charmingly odd; Dust #77 explores every corner of the electronic music genre — bringing with it a conglomerate of different experiences, thoughts, and a general jumble of happy nonsense.