Penumbra is one of the best electronic EPs I’ve heard in a while. Because it’s so short, it’s all killer and no filler. (Which is what makes most EPs so great, but also what makes them lacking: they may be all killer, but they’re short, so they lack a certain level of depth.)
But there’s also an element of throwback to this. In some ways, Made of Oak is reminding me of their ancestors, like Land of the Loops, with synth moments that build towards crescendos without ever feeling obnoxiously loud or demanding.
At the same time, Made of Oak is at the top of the atmospheric game, competing with Alt-J at their very instrumental best. While Penumbra doesn’t go as far outside the box as something like Arca (Made of Oak sounds like it was still made by a human), the music still has the ability to surprise.