CS + Kreme - howwouldyoufeelwithoutthatthought

November 29, 2020 - The Trilogy Tapes

CS + Kreme beg of us one single question, howwouldyoufeelwithoutthatthought, but do not leave much room for response. Somber chanting, splayed beats, and some sort of didgeridoo frame out a long hellish boat ride to the other side in ‘April Fool’s Day’— a reminder to always keep a silver dollar in your pocket, or say your prayers, or whatever you personally need to do to prepare for the end. The sixteen-minute track is erected in layers. A high-hat trill mimics cicada wings, strings ebb and flow between harmony and discord. Synth horns come alive and a steel drum indicates arrival somewhere. A squared synth climbs to a stressful climax. Astral beings snore, invisible beasts moan, celestial textures flit about the ears, someone continually drops a plastic ball on a school desk with eerie repercussions. The whole track has a very Book of the Dead umbra.

‘Bugged,’ changes tones, with some funky men either laughing or saying “hup-hup,” backed up by one hell of a grooving bassline. ‘Bugged’ maintains its textural richness, the wide-spanning call and response of bass and rhythm guitar creating a pasture for elements to come and go. The effect is highly organic. A sort of terrible but compelling blend of voice, kazoo, and flute comes in with a hymnal in mind, then goes quiet. More insect clicks appear. Dissonant bells repeat the phrases of the kazoo. Then the whole thing rhythmically elaborates. Shuffling drums lay down their beat, to create a sort of alligator-with-sunglasses-on effect. Then ingredients are mixed in and whisked. ‘Bugged’ sustains itself by a permutation of rhythms and melodic phrases.

In all, howwouldyoufeelwithoutthatthought is both hypnotic and thoughtful. There is enough movement to promote consciousness and enough restraint to invite meditation, but not enough time to figure out which thoughts serve you and which do not. But maybe you can begin that process here, now. ⛰️