Legiac - The Faex Has Decimated

It was in 2007 when Don and Roel Funcken and Cor Bolten would release their first collective debut full length album together under the name of Legiac. Having released "Ming Feaner" via the Sending Orbs label, the IDM community opened up to the trio and warmly welcomed them, but that was to be expected. Roel has been around for quite a while in the electronic music scene, and has had plenty of background with other established labels including Skam, Ad Noiseam, Arcola (Warp subsidiary), Schematic, N5MD, etc. 

However, that was then, and this is now. The now brings us to just Roel and Cor Bolten heading their sophomore album, "The Faex Has Decimated" which has been advertised as being darker and eerier, but I kind of have to halt that train of thought and call it much more exploratory to the senses (though I do agree with the label stating that it has "...warm melodic dreamscapes"). 

Anyway, I've had a tiresome day, and the last thing I wanted to do was blast myself with something loud and noisy and otherwise disturbing to the ears. Which is why I'm sitting in heaven with Legiac's "The Faex Has Decimated". From the start with 'Keplerian Orbit', which holds the rest of the album to high expectations to 'Jefre Tramix', Legiac has mastered a very special album. 

'Mantikythera Echanism' takes bouts in between revolving dark ambient structures and spider-like IDM. 'Jefre Treminth' takes a more traditional IDM route, blinking volume control from slight hints of digital effects to nothingness other than the space around you. 'Bizoid Stroke' puts on a happier face, with delightful little electronic charms ringing about, and 'Sprain Detaxx' gets a little more on the rough side, though it's expertly controlled bass rumbled through the whole song. 

'Conazol Ketamind' went straight into subliminal, drone territory; perhaps one of the weaker songs on the album that didn't fit in place, but it wasn't unbearable. The very cinematic intro to the title track immediately sold me, and the complex, but aura inducing synths backing it all was superb. 'Mellar Stass' slowed the album down a notch, while 'Hannabinoid Cyperemesis' brought things to a dark ambient field. Again, out of place, but this one was done very, very well, and the tiny effects laid within it were put to good use.

'Row Glodation' seemed to me to be one of the more well crafted and complex songs on the album, and I really appreciated it. 'Sevastopol's Nexus' was well produced, but I didn't find much to really praise it for. 'Gliese581c' mixed atmosphere with IDM very, very well, and 'Jefre Tramix' ended the album on a sleepy, dream ridden bed of ambient love. 

And, to end all my thoughts simply, Legiac's "The Faex Has Decimated" is quite a beautiful IDM album that would be great for pre-bedtime listening. Check it out and support these guys. 
Jun 04 2015