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Band: Alexis Erisian Album: The Abolition Of Pain Album Year: 2007 Label: Kallisti Gold Genre(s): Experimental, Electronic Band Website: kallistigold.50webs.com Download From: http://www.archive.org/details/Kau-012
Rating: 9/10 Tracklist:
6. A Virgin Dancing Among The Dancing Dead 7. (Perhaps All Plesure Is) Relief
Ok so one day I get an e-mail asking me to review “The Abolition of Pain” by Alexis Erisian. I had never previously heard of either Alexis Erisian or Kallisti Gold, nor could I find much information on either. Eventually I tracked down that Alexis Erisian is some guy from Sweden who is involved in a number of experimental projects including The Dead Hours, Lethargica & Inimikal and is influenced by Coil and Current 93. So between that and the picture of him on the Kallisti Gold site, I knew this album had to be interesting listen at least. (I urge you to check out his picture on Kallisti Gold…if there was to be a single visual representation of this album, that picture would be it…it’s fantastic)
Anyway, I’m really glad I decided to check out this album. I have no idea how to really classify it other than to say “well, it’s kind of electronic and it’s kind of experimental”. So, I guess in that respect it is kind of like Coil. Musically the album is all over the place (kind of like Coil). There are songs that have almost folk influence and then some that have opera/theatre/cabaret influence, and then some that have ebm influence and then even one that has something of an 8bit influence. The Abolition of Pain has got to be one of the most diverse and varied albums I have heard in a very long time. And the best part about it is that every track is put together incredibly well. Each track is full of fascinating instrumentation, along with numerous layers and sections. The tracks seem to cover a lot of territory, but it all flows together in a logical and fluid manner. Even though a number of the tracks are fairly long, none of them at any point seem to drag on. They are all well constructed and produced; every instrument in every song is completely audible and fits in and meshes with the surrounding layers of audio to create a number of atmospheres which I had never previously fathomed. I believe the most accurate thing I could say is that this album is extremely dynamic and diverse, and quite different from most of the stuff you are probably listening to. It has downtempo moments, it has uptempo (almost ebm) moments, it’s got folk moments, it’s got cabaret moments…it’s got Coil moments and it’s got Das Ich moments. I can sincerely say that I have not heard very much out there that is similar to this, and that is probably a good thing (as I’m sure most people would fail at an attempt to make something this unique). This succeeds in all of the areas that experimental electronic music should; it is unique, diverse, it has the ability to evoke emotions and of course, it is extremely enjoyable. Honestly, I can sit down and listen to the album all the way through painlessly which is a feat rarely achieved.
The bottom line is that if you’re looking for a different type of atmospheric and emotional electronic music then you should waste no time in getting this album…I mean it’s free to download, so what’s stopping you? You will not be disappointed.
[.d4n b4rr3tt.] August 2007 |
