Released
April 1999

Label
Pendragon Records

Reviewed by
Kim Alexander

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Xorcist at The Cyberden

Last Edit/Update
30 April, 1999

   Track Listing

1. Nomad
2. Slider
3. Alienautic
4. Trichotomy
5. Spider
6. Insect
7. Omni
8. Phantara
9. Pretty
10. Spiritual Angels
11. Whiplash Sonogram
12. Untitled

     Xorcist has certainly gone into somewhat of a different direction with his sixth release to date, Nomad. A recent switch to Pendragon Records (which hosts such artists as Imperative Reaction, THD, Gridlock and more), has occurred for Xorcist from the now Resting In Peace 21st Circuitry Records (San Francisco). Not only has Xorcist switched labels, but the new release Nomad comes about as a more pseudo-ambient electro-death, darkwaveish piece of art.  There are still hints of the older sounds that define the unique work created by Xorcist such as the dance beats, great percussion, and the sonic and spacious synth textures. Added however on this release, is more melody written into a number of the tracks, lyrics that are quite thoughtful in terms of "having a sense of universal meaning", with an angelic and questioning nature surrounding the entire CD and beautiful female mantric type vocals.
    Nomad is certainly a release for fans of Xorcist to have in their collection. There isn't one track on it that won't capture your attention. One by one, the first three tracks lead the listener into a gently unfolding electronic poetic verse and tend to instill a certain "emotional holiness". Track four, Tricotomy, is a good example of the angelic mood on the release as it combines dronal mantric vocals (done by Bat, Sunshine and Tahoe), bursts of thunder, and sounds of insects in the background. Track five, Spider  is in a different vein of sound, reflecting a more tribal approach, still dancey, powerful chanting drums, spooky synths and and melody. The CD isn't without the crashing noise and beastly samples that has benchmarked Xorcist releases in the past. Track six, Omni, has a very sinister feel to it at the beginning, low frequency bass and harmony that kicks into a faster paced mood of over five minutes of electro synth chaos...
    Track eight, Phantera is a slower work with a more quiet, classically orchestrated and pensive feel to it. Spiritual Angles, track ten, takes on even more differentiation with a lean to the more exotic influence of the mysticism of ancient eastern music -- water bowls, sitar and again, the angelic vocals, but then kicks into a faster pace, super beat/percussion and more timbre...beautiful!  If you don't get goosebumps from this track, have your ears checked? Track eleven, Whiplash Sonogram, is a noisy breech of the CD overall, and goes on for over seven minutes, ending the onslaught in peaceful simplicity. Probably the most innovative track of all is the last one, Untitled, and rightfully so. It's a collage of sounds layered over a number of different patches of samples ranging from hymn-like chorus to 50s television or perhaps radio/sound ads about stereo sound, and screaming of people in some sort of collapsing building/tornado (?) to that of a cat screeching and much more -- it's quite a pretty interesting collage.
    I admit to being a very big fan of Xorcist music. I don't think he can create anything I wouldn't fully enjoy. If you haven't heard Xorcist before, this CD is a good place to start. His five earlier releases are more harsh however with dance beats and scary growls, snarls and melodic undertones, but nonetheless just as good as this one. Xorcist also creates music for [and] games,  The Cyberden, as well as various other modes of media products. A diverse artist, with a diverse portfolio. If you have missed his work, I recommend you treat yourself to Nomad or any of the other many releases by Xorcist. Xorcist resides in California.

Click the cover to
head to Nomad
clips at Xorcist Site.

Excellent Artworks on Nomad
by
Evoltwin

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