“When The Dust Settles” by Edward Cross
There is a kind of courage in restraint, in choosing to whisper when the world shouts
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British multi-instrumentalist and composer Edward Cross leans into that space with “When the Dust Settles”, his new five-track EP released via Whales Records on June 27, 2025. Subtle yet emotionally charged, the project navigates the blurred edges between classical tradition and contemporary expression, crafting soundscapes that feel at once intimate and timeless.
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Known for his elegant balance of melody, harmony, and silence, Cross continues here a path laid out in his previous release Lost in Blue. But where that project shimmered with melancholic beauty, When the Dust Settles takes a deeper breath — inviting stillness, patience, and attentive listening.
“When the dust settles” by Edward Cross
Each track on “When the dust settles”
Elegy, Improvisation, and Emotional Truth
The title track, “When the Dust Settles”
Sets the tone with aching cello lines and a slow, steady build — written in response to a devastating video of a grieving Palestinian mother. The composition resists despair, leaning instead into dignity and endurance.
Each note seems to ask :
”what remains, after everything falls away?”
From there, Cross guides the listener into a series of meditations.
“The Weight of Silence”
Honors the space between chords, playing with absence as much as sound.
“What Remains”
Toys with repetition, what Cross once jokingly called “plink plink plinky plonk plonk” — before blossoming into a subtle conversation between piano, violin, and cello. The humor in the naming belies the sensitivity of the piece, where small shifts take on emotional weight.
The EP’s fourth track, “Bloom”
Originated as an improvisation. Built over a looping synth bed and enriched by clarinet & trombone, it pulses with understated warmth. Hints of jazz seep through the texture, a nod to the artist’s background in clarinet and improvisation. It feels like morning light after a long night.
Closing the record is “The Feeling’s Mutual”
A gentle, heartfelt reflection on connection and reassurance. Written during a moment of emotional clarity, it draws the arc of human relationship — uncertainty, tenderness, and finally, shared understanding. It’s not dramatic; it’s human.
The EP unfolds with calm and care,
like a conversation that matters more with each word.
When the Dust Settles feels like a short walk that changes your mood.
One that lingers long after the final note fades.
