Talos’ acclaimed 2019 album, Far Out Dust, was shaped by movement – written and created in between New York, Los Angeles, London, Cork and Reykjavik, in the midst of a notably busy period for the Cork artist. Over three years later, he’s back with Dear Chaos – informed instead by isolation and introspection.

Largely written and recorded in Castletownshend in West Cork alongside long-time collaborator Ross Dowling, with finishing touches added in a cabin in the woods in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Dear Chaos immediately establishes itself as an album that demands a quiet space, time and close attention. It’s also an album that embraces contrasts, with Talos, also known as Eoin French, showcasing two sides of his artistry – the visionary behind vast, cinematic soundscapes, and the singer-songwriter who’s not afraid to get devastatingly raw and intimate in his approach. Where other artists could be swallowed up in the immensity of the sound, on Dear Chaos, the tenderness and humanity remain the central focus, embedded amongst the expansive electronics and synths.

Despite collaborations with Dowling, guest vocalist Lisa Hannigan, and Icelandic composer Atli Örvarsson, plus additional production from Brian Joseph, this is Talos at his most unflinchingly direct and personal, as he explores destruction and renewal on both an emotional and a creative level.

8/10