Guide to ?arcane nocturne? offerings whose reviews are provided here:
1st nocturne: SHE SILENCED SERAPHIM "...of Poetry and Pornography..." (aka moredecayandviolins), plus Procession of Steel and ninth of decay.
2nd nocturne: COMMUNION "their despair in gentle things"
3rd nocturne: COMMUNION "through dreams of reckless sleep"
4th nocturne: COMMUNION, SHE SILENCED SERAPHIM & SLEEP SEEKS SOLITUDE
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The following are wonderful words of poesy from Lady Christine Knight, collectively triggered by the first 4 offerings from ?arcane nocturne?. Inspiring.
COMMUNION, SHE SILENCED SERAPHIM & SLEEP SEEKS SOLITUDE [nocturnes 1 to 4]
...somnambulent excursions to hades, or at least the darkest regions of thy soul... edgy, palpitating rhythms are bolstered by a sudden oasis of symphonic lucidity... only to shatter once more into sonic turbulence. this builds until the listener is at the edge - then holds one there, suspended, with tantalizing taunts of sanity glimpsed only enough to cast doubt upon one's self... this music reminds me of some crazy trips i've taken, where only faith could get me to the other side. unsettling stuff! --Through the Trees (3 Ravens Productions)
The following reviews are on ?arcane nocturne?'s three cassette-tape releases.
COMMUNION, SHE SILENCED SERAPHIM & SLEEP SEEKS SOLITUDE [nocturnes 2 to 4]
Arcane Nocturne, the Virginia-based label responsible for the "...of poetry and pornography..." compilation. . . sent three tapes of current projects. All three feature communion, a group of musicians who create fascinatingly dark and organic sound collages. There are no titles given for these pieces, so it's hard to itemize them one by one. On through dreams of reckless sleep, there is a piece that incorporates parts of Duran Duran's "The Chauffer" , though you have to think before you recognize it, it's so deconstructed. The rest of the pieces float somewhere in the abyss between noise and melody. There are a lot of fascinating textures here. According to the letter that came with the tapes, the pieces are constantly being deconstructed and reconceived, and every performance is different. Which means that all tapes of communion are, in essence, historical artifacts never to be repeated. All of Arcane Nocturne 's releases are highly recommended to those interested in darkly fascinating musical experiences. -- INDUSTRIAL NATION #15 ((usa)
A twisted madness steals over me, secret messages are there for my saddened mind to reach out and take, take to heart, leave this room, flee screaming into the darkening night..drawn by these minstrels of chaos. Ninety minute sessions of obsessive fancy, swirling aether and sinister voice, falling thought and dreamtime scapes. Highly recommended. -- Codex Obscura (CLK) [magazine]
The only comparisonI could think of is a Hyperion band teaming up with those evil crazies at Cold Meat Industry and having it remixed by an electro-band from Zoth Ommog. What more can a darkwave cyber-punk ask for? This needs to be recorded on CD! --D.A. of Kent (ohio, usa)
SHE SILENCED SERAPHIM "...Of Poetry and Pornography..." [1st nocturne]
...a fascinating release...something for just about everyone who's into gothic. Medieval instruments using churchbell type sounds, dark, brooding pieces with deep-voiced male vocals...this is an eclectic one. Something very interesting to pick up if you get the chance. – Industrial Nation #12 (magazine, usa)
Incredible. Blackened atmospheric soundscapes of very impressive darkwave make up this tape. The music consists of deep emotional surges and brings forth a feeling of pure darkness. Imagine lying in a catacomb crawling with rats and filled with the stench of disease. This might be just one of the visions you experience when hearing this tape. ESSENTIAL. — The Ohm Clock #4 (magazine, usa)
This Virginia based band has made a very impressive debut with this cassette. The music here is a clever blending of cyber-industrial vocals, electrogothic/doom synths, and some powerful orchestral elements. This reminds me in some slight ways of Memorandum or Autopsia although they're just a bit more night club oriented and theatrical than either of those bands. There are a lot of good songs here and I hope these guys get more attention. The cover art on this self-produced cassette suitably depicts a classical Grecian sculpture of a hero and his enemy broken beneath him. — Eskhatos #2 (magazine, usa)
La premieres regroupe des compositions de More Decay And Violins (tout un programme...) qui, si l'on excepte “Eternal Betrayal”,qu'on dirait sorti d'un film d'Argento, oscillent entre solennite tenebreuse aux poussees gothiques et crescendo de sueurs froides, avec plus d'intelligence que nombre des adeptes de ce style… Peut-etre est-ce du a l’absence quasi-totale de voix… En tout cas, on n’a pas l’impression d’errer dans un cimetiere de carton pate. – Concept (France)
A fusion of medieval past and current experimental methods that may define and spearhead subcultural music of the distant future...neo-classical music that transcends traditions, reflecting unveiled aberration and surrealistic fragments of dreams in the process...this is she silenced seraphim...— Herald X
COMMUNION "Their Despair in Gentle Things" [2nd nocturne]
Although this is a demo cassette, there is enough material on here for a full-length CD and enough musical variety for three bands. communion run the gamut from dark, electronic soundscapes, chaotic industrial rhythms, ominous chanting, and screaming vocals. Overall one of the most ambitious efforts I've ever witnessed on a demo tape. A worthwhile wellproduced tape. --The Ohm Clock #4 (magazine, usa)
This spontaneity is what makes communion's music so incredible... The music is a fluid, changing organism that is astounding even after repeated listenings. --The Times of Howard Community College (periodical, usa)
communion. dernier projet en date de l'animateur des precedents groupes, la encore petite deception: les bons moments sont noyes sous les incursions industrielles tapageuses. Une musique sombre et torturee sans aucun doute. --Concept (France)
Creepy, ominous synthesizer and samples, tribal drumming, distorted vocals. Lo-fi gothic misery to pop in at the next holiday party. – ANNKOI (zine, Washington D.C.)
COMMUNION "Through Dreams of Reckless Sleep" [3rd nocturne]
90 minutes of distorted guitars, feedback, keyboard, voices (gothic male vox's), samples, drum programs--all fitting together to form what would be best a soundtrack for a Jean Rollin movie. Picture a gothic abbey or an ancient well-kept cemetery. That eerie/ethereal atmosphere is present in communion's music. If you are not that imaginative, then think of Skinny Puppy. Darkwave, ambient, gothic fans a must. --Children of Caine # 2 (BC) (magazine, connecticut, usa)
