Alethes is a project of J. Joshua Philips, and someone simply called 'Exile'. This is their debut album, released in a marvellous 6x6" gatefold of thick leathery carton, with delicate artwork and calligraphy in black relief. On this dark acoustic album, J.J. and Exile are joined by Armin Zomorodi on cello, Nora Danielson on violin, and Markus Wolff of Waldteufel on percussion.

Dark acoustic is perhaps the best way to describe this album, because it as quite unlike most bands that are normally related to the dark folk genre. Actually, many of the acoustic guitar melodies and chords remind me of a metal approach to music, and in a way, this album could be considered a highly succesful attempt at making brooding acoustic doom metal. On the other hand, I would like to leave this impression aside, because it would be senseless to possibly scare away people who don't have any feeling with metal. This album has a unique style, and many merits of its own.

The proper opener, "dust" is a good representative of the Alethes sound. Obscure, earthy, slow movements on acoustic guitar chords, with low, raw vocals (an acquired taste, to be sure), percussion (sounds like bodhrán) and some fine string arrangements. As my choice of words suggests, the music has a very dark atmosphere, referring at the same time to nightly nature images and the spiritual struggles of the lyrics. The harshness of "dust" and especially "we once were" is compensated by the gentle nature of the title track, with its beautiful guitar/string melody and soft vocals. "eostre" is also a more contemplative, very slow, track with some great melodies. The final track, "a journey to arachne", is a rousing piece with snare march, once more about spiritual perseverence in the sight of a sunken world.

What more is there to say than that this is an excellent debut? It comes warmly recommended to all lovers of dark atmospheric and acoustic music, and openminded folk adepts.

O.S.