Ever see a snow or rain storm approach, one moment, a wave that grows, surrounds, then envelops, and in next moment you are in its midst—that is the experience of Threads. Somewhere between the eerie, whispy aether of Tim Hecker’s more ambient moments and the equally so, Celer wherein the latter also imparts a sense of longing, dwells Capetown, South Africa producer/composer Jason van Wyk. This debut release on N5MD, offers mellifluous, understated whispery drones with unfurling, drawn-out melodies that burst with emotion and meaning. Threads is crowded ghostly crackles and echoes, while treated field recordings interplay with drones and washes. Vestiges of piano melody straddles dream/wake states as you can almost feel a cool breeze emanate from the speakers and caress your face. Think epiphany moments in films, the intense crescendos, the emotionally overwhelming moods, all set in vast, expanses. Opening track “Retention” is like an entire film score unto itself and goes through roller coaster waves of emotion; a gradual summit, plunge and resurgence. “Amidst” is understated ambience while an old record crackles on “Sun Fluorescent” which engages in musical seance amidst lush near-orchestral washes. The haunting, aptly titled “Light Burns Out” opens with shimmering piano notes before aortic beats pump mid way through while tiny crackles and rustling skitters throughout and then dissipates from a chilling wind. Piano and beats, albeit metronome-like return on “Partial Dawn” accompanied with mechanical movement and “Subdued” is more of an ambient echo. “Where to End” seems the more ambitious piece and has a lot more going on, with much on the same emotional rollercoaster as “Retention”. Threads concludes with the dramatic yet positive “Near Dark” where rhythms and ambience coalesce into an uplifting rush. Threads is a series of visitations from ghosts in times gone by, some from a distant past some from your own time that ultimately yields to the great march. Jason van Wyk offers a bright thread in our celestial tapestry. If you wanted to get haunted, in a good way, pick this album up.