Hilgrove Kenrick & Nick Norton-Smith conjure a dreamlike world on "Sylph"
Sylph, the new collaborative EP from Hilgrove Kenrick and Nick Norton-Smith, is one of those rare pieces of music that simply moves you within the first song. Spanning four tracks of breathtaking instrumental soundscapes, it manages to be simultaneously intimate and vast, cinematic and deeply personal, and undeniably soothing.
Kenrick, already a decorated composer with a portfolio stretching from film and television to choral commissions, brings his gift for texture and orchestral grandeur. Norton-Smith, a multi-instrumentalist and composer with a similarly wide-ranging background in music for stage and screen, complements him with an EP that feels both grounded and otherworldly. Together, they have created something that’s simply emotional.
From the opening moments, the soprano saxophone takes center stage, its voice soaring and guiding the listener through shifting landscapes. Around it, the orchestral moments and synthesizers blur into one another, building swirling atmospheres that move together exceptionally well.
Recorded live in central London, the performances capture an immediacy that sets this EP apart from studio-polished, overly programmed ambient music. Listening on headphones feels like stepping into a private concert (which we highly recommend you do). There’s so much subtlety in the mix, you’d really be missing out if you didn’t give it a close listen!
Emotionally, the EP hits a sweet spot that’s hard to define but impossible to miss. It’s uplifting without being overbearing and soothing without ever becoming too much. The music lives in the delicate balance of light and shadow, joy and melancholy. In a way, that’s what makes it so powerful as it doesn’t deny complexity, but rather embraces it.
By the final track “Undine”, Sylph feels less like a collection of compositions and more like a journey through a world built entirely of sound. Kenrick and Norton-Smith aren’t just composers here, they’re architects of an environment, one that resonates long after the final notes fade.
Where instrumental music often gets reduced to background playlists or algorithmic noise, Sylph is a bold reminder of what happens when artistry, intention, and emotional honesty converge. These two are so clearly at the top of their game, it’s instantly become a record that’s can’t miss. Strap in for a truly joyous ride and make sure to click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for more from each respective artist.
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