Lucy Fitzgerald 
There are albums you listen to, and then there are albums you experience—and “Please Hold” by The Cavernous easily lands in the second category. This heavy psychedelic electronic duo out of Kelowna, BC, isn’t trying to follow anyone’s footsteps. From their use of synths, sequencers, and electronic drums to the sheer gutsiness of releasing this project via a phone number (yes, really), it’s clear these two are making music on their own terms. The result? A delightfully unsettling, immersive experience that’s equal parts strange, meditative, and deeply thought-provoking.
The release begins innocently enough, placing listeners on the metaphorical “hold” line with dial tones, robotic operators, and washed-out lo-fi textures. At first, it feels like ambient background music—soothing, even—but it doesn’t stay that way for long. The project quickly reveals its deeper undercurrents of unease, grief, and mortality. Tracks like “Bubbles (not a SOAD cover)” and “Vitric” unravel into something far more emotional and raw than you’d expect from an album that starts off sounding like hold music. The backstory behind these tracks adds even more weight—one inspired by a near-death story, the other created during a time of personal loss.
The band’s unique process—working remotely and layering slow-building ideas over time—really shines in the pacing and patience of each song. “Quinze”, built around an uncommon 15/8 time signature, keeps the listener slightly off balance, while “Guile” creeps in like a shadow you didn’t realize was there until it wrapped around you. It’s not chaotic, though—it’s controlled, intentional weirdness. Every moment feels like a subtle nod to the fragility of being human.
As someone who thrives on albums that walk the edge between comfort and confrontation, “Please Hold” genuinely gripped me. I didn’t expect to feel so emotionally tethered to a record that opens with an automated operator, but here we are. It’s haunting and oddly cozy at the same time, like being wrapped in a warm blanket while staring into the abyss. What makes “Please Hold” so compelling is its honesty. It doesn’t rush. It doesn’t explain itself. It lingers, it breathes, and it gently reminds you of your own impermanence—all while sounding incredibly cool doing it.
If you’re looking for something experimental, brave, and a little bit spooky, don’t let this one slip by. “Please Hold” isn’t background noise—it’s a portal. Be sure to give The Cavernous a follow on your favorite platform and dial into this surreal experience by calling 877-420-9159. Better yet, save the tracks to your playlist so you can re-enter this beautifully eerie space anytime. You’ll never think of hold music the same way again.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
