a r t i s t : Xela
t i t l e : The Illuminated
d a t e : 2009
l a b e l : Dekorder
g e n r e : Avantgarde
r l s. d a t e : Mar/2009
t r a c k s : 02
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 50,6 MB
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The music of Xela is not easily described. The alias of Type
Records main-man John Twells, he has over the last decade
moved through a dense fog of musical styles from abstract
electronics to rusty soundscapes. In recent years his output
has allied itself with darker realms, taking a liberal dose of
influence from Norway's darker exponents, but retaining a deep
and measured experimental focus.
"The Illuminated" was originally released on cassette, a
format very fitting to the gloomy, waterlogged sounds; but
having sold out in a matter of days it now recieves the much
needed deluxe re-issue treatment. Taking cues from the cracked
black metal of Burzum and Striborg and fusing this with heavy,
synthesized noise "The Illuminated" is possibly Xela's
darkest, most spine-chilling work to date. We are taken
through chiming Nurse With Wound-inspired soundscapes into
Middle Eastern marketplaces and through caverns of thick,
buzzing synthesized noise on the album's first piece.
Entitled "Black Scripture" this takes the dank religious
themes of "In Bocca Al Lupo" and goes even deeper into the
Church dungeons, digging up lost artifacts and the angry
spirits that accompany them. The flipside extends this heresy
with a throaty vocal and distorted electric guitar, leaving
blackened corpses and the traces of a sleepy village in its
wake. Devastating and dark material, listen if you dare...
Website: learnwithxela.com
MySpace: myspace.com/learnwithxela
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a-black scripture [20:03]
b-gilted rose [19:55]
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39:58 min