V▲LH▲LL + M‡яc▲ll▲ - GħØsŧs of ΛnŧįquįŧҰ Remixed

Is there anything more obscure than a witch house remix album? For a start, the splattering of unicode characters throughout the track titles makes web searches a challenge, reinforcing the notion that this dark art form is wilfully elusive. No doubt this is the kind of music that begs to be collected on limited edition hand numbered cassette or vinyl, but at the time of writing it's a "pay what you like, or nothing" download from Bandcamp. The album is a 16 track split release of remixes derived from original tracks by artists V▲LH▲LL (Sweden) and M‡яc▲ll▲ (Romania). So go ahead and download it if you've been skirting around the genre for a while wondering what all of the fuss is about, because this is some very good witch house remixed by some its leading artists.

This album is a wave of crushing sonic despair that just sort of washes over you. It's lo-fi, there's more reverb than Tutankhamen's tomb, the beats are often simple. So what's the appeal? I guess it is all about emotion and atmosphere. It practically begs to be played loud, in a dark room, late at night, with your doors unlocked.

At 16 tracks, I couldn't do justice to a full blow by blow review, so you'll have to settle for the pick of my personal highlights. Track 2, M‡яc▲ll▲ - Şpεcįεs oҒ Gяo†εsqƯεrҰ [Midn▲ttssol mix by V▲LH▲LL] begins with a very gritty analog (?) synth arp which is eventually overlaid with some warped, half growled vocals. Sounds strange, but it works.

M‡яc▲ll▲ - Şpεcįεs oҒ Gяo†εsqƯεrҰ [TΛNZ DΛNZΞ mix by SLEEPLESS NIGHTS] will probably be the most appealing to those who are used to a recognisable electronic music structure. As it stands, it is one of my favourite witch house crossover tracks. If you are new to this business and want something to ease you gently into the cesspool, this is my pick.

However, if there is a true highlight of this disc then it is V▲LH▲LL - R34CH The 5KY [∆AIMON mix], after the vocals come in midway through the track. The effect is something truly unique - a chillingly robotic voice presiding over a bleakly foreboding soundscape. The next track glides effortlessly into the psyche of the listener, a disturbing glimpse into the mind of C/∆/T with their V▲LH▲LL - To the D0ck5 remix. Masterful.

If there's one word for this album, it is "solid". I think that every single artist who is featured here deserves recognition. It has been a year of immense progression in this sphere of musical expression, with artists such as Distorted Memory making bold strides forwards into uncharted territory. This release may do little to carry that torch too much further into the unknown, but it's still a very good listen. And for an album that could theoretically be downloaded for less than pennies, what more can you ask for, really? Nov 28 2012