David Edwards, the electronica artiste and producer extraordinaire better known as his alter ego Minotaur Shock drops his new record Orchard, out on Melodic. Edwards has regularly used aspects of folk in his music, a method which led to critics dubbing his work “folktronica”, a label which both irked and spurred him to dive headfirst into the world he had tried so hard to distance himself from. With new techniques in hand and a vast array of real rather than synthetic instruments, Minotaur Shock set the wheels in motion for his upcoming LP. This new output is the eagerly anticipated follow up to his pre-hiatus album Amateur Dramatics released four years ago; the question is, was it worth the wait?

Viewed as a whole, the album is akin to a soul-searching voyage – there are sonic elements from around the world, blended with a stiff shot of Edwards’ innate electronica. Opener ‘Adventure Orchard’ leans heavily on the synthesized side of sound, with Ratatat-style bass wobs and glossy keys. As the collection unfurls more diverse influences seep in. Nine minute saga ‘Janet’ is a minimalist machine, utilising luxurious string washes while borrowing from Eastern cultures and dischordant art music to induce a magnificent trance, which at its zenith suddenly dissolves into an acoustic guitar-led tirade of triumph.

One noticeable change is how real Orchard sounds- the use of actual instruments is evident, layered above artificial noises and synths. This twist of authenticity in the electronic music is a breath of fresh air, making available a whole new palette.

‘Lending Library’ is a techno-based exploration into rhythm, with math-rock stings of elevator music and bells. ‘Quint’ furthers the expedition with a brief sojourn to the Arabian peninsula where Edwards can dabble with every instrument in sight to create a blistering Middle Eastern electronica epic. ‘Through The Pupils Of Goats’ scurries into the depths of 65 Days Of Static territory, with endless effects and lush melodies. The much-talked about ‘Saundersfoot’, prominently remixed by Gold Panda, features a plethora of tuned percussion which is surreptitiously chopped apart and rehashed into a space-age dollop of calm.

Orchard is captivating, start to finish – it’s delightfully unusual to listen to such a multi-faceted being take you on a blinkered journey through the world of noise, stopping off at many varied destinations. Minotaur Shock delves into many genres but one that is perhaps surprisingly left out is traditional Western folk. We can easily hear music from around the globe as well as countless electronica sub-genres. Is it that by jumping into “folk”, Edwards has somehow avoided it? Regardless, this is a stunning release. And yes, it was definitely worth the wait.

Listen to Orchard