When people think of techno music and the like, the images that immediately come to mind are almost certainly euphoric in nature. Think discothèques filled to bursting with beautiful people, their bodies moving in synch and their hands raised in celebration as they dance until the wee hours of the morning.
Now make no mistake, there’s plenty that’s euphoric-sounding about Ise, the latest album from Irish producer Killian Walsh. In reality, though, the album emerged from a place of great loss and suffering. In a short three-month span, Walsh lost both his wife and father, and at its core, Ise is a chronicle of his grief, albeit one told with the aid of pulsing beats and surging sequencers.
“Robin” is one of Ise’s highlights, a driving trance number that Walsh composed when he was at his lowest point following his wife’s death from cancer. Knowing that, “Robin” takes on some additional heft, and never more so than when the beat subsides and the ambience expands, giving Walsh space to pay tribute to his dearly departed (“Where are you? I can’t see you but I can hear you. If you were here, what would I say? Thank you… I love you.”). It’s a moment of peaceful reflection before the beat slams back in. Walsh’s daughter Elise lends her lovely voice to the song, as well, making it even more personal.
Ise is currently available.