Kilmarth explores fear of happiness on concept album ‘Cherophobia’ for Adventurous Music digital series
Kilmarth
Belgian electronic project Kilmarth has released the concept album “Cherophobia“. Written and produced by Cedric Wattergniaux, the 9-track release focuses on cherophobia – the fear of happiness. Musically Wattergniaux continues his series of IDM-driven, cinematic works first introduced to Side-Line readers with “Catharsis“.
The album forms part of Adventurous Music’s ongoing digital series, in which the Leipzig-based micro-label focuses on experimental electronic works. Seven of the nine tracks feature guest vocalists, while two pieces remain instrumental. The guest list includes Mad Mac, Eeerisei, Silly Shadow, Heri B., Natasha Moreno, Deranged Psyche and Clémence Legrand.
Besides vocals (and additional lyrics on “Quel Est Ton Nom”) Deranged Psyche aka Stéphane Froidcoeur also provided the cover artwork: “I knew Cédric Wattergniaux long before he started his project Kilmarth. When he asked me to illustrate his new album, “Cherophobia”, with one of my mixed-media collages, I was immediately drawn to his concept.“
“The fear of being happy (cherophobia) is a compelling idea, and it deeply inspired me. Later, Cédric asked whether I would be interested in lending my voice to one of the songs, for which I also wrote the lyrics, “Quel Est Ton Nom?”. I would describe his music as highly creative and Experimental, blending various influences in a kind of freestyle approach—combining elements of Trip-Hop, Glitch, Ambient, and Electro. It is music for a select audience, who will undoubtedly appreciate its more adventurous moments.”
Musically, “Cherophobia” extends the line established on “Sociological Veranda” by combining IDM structures, ambient passages, glitch textures and trip-hop-leaning rhythms, while giving more space to spoken word and French-language texts.
About Kilmarth
Kilmarth is a Belgian electronic solo project founded in 2007 by composer, producer and French teacher Cédric Wattergniaux, who offers a mix of IDM, experimental electronics, ambient, cinematic sound design and glitch. The project name references the Cornish house Kilmarth from Daphne du Maurier’s novel The House on the Strand.
Kilmarth debuted in 2018 with the CD mini-album “Catharsis”. The release was followed by theEP “Derrière Le Miroir” in 2021, which pushed further into minimal-electro and cinematographic territory and later spawned the video -focused “M-Fia41“.
In early 2022, Kilmarth issued the two-track single “Baryum“, introducing a darker post-industrial ambient angle. The 2023 mini-album “Better Days” showed a shift towards more vocal-centred material, including collaborations with singer Froidcoeur and a more cinematic, IDM-based production style.
In 2024 Kilmarth’s first full-length IDM release “Sociological Veranda” landed offering a blend of experimental, electro, cinematic and glitch elements. That same year, the single “Vergessen” was released with the jazz-infused B-Side “ToExposeTheTruth”.
Later in 2024, Kilmarth returned with a brand new EP, “My Son of The Moon“, an EP that introduced Mad Mac as a guest, a collaboration later expanded on “Cherophobia”. In early 2025, Kilmarth first collaborated with D-Fried for the “Micrometeoritic Flowerpot” album.
Also check out this Kilmarth interview for more info on this project.
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