Lesiem Illumination CD

With its second release, Lesiem continues to create a hypnotic blend of Gregorian chant, world-beat rhythms, and sultry dance loops. Often compared with Enigma, Lesiem features an otherworldly male chorus chanting with a surprising expressiveness. The music?s moody atmosphere wouldn?t seem out of place in a Gothic cathedral. The brainchild of two German producers, Lesiem?s songs slip between light and dark, cruelty and beauty, and that tension is the secret to the group?s success. ?Poeta? rocks with a lazy dance pulse while the choir seems at odds with itself, alternately scolding and welcoming, creating a complex sense of foreboding. ?Agnus Dei? shows a softer side as the vocals rise toward heaven and the music shimmers with golden, celestial tones. Although all tracks are sung in Latin and are reminiscent of traditional liturgical music, there are no religious categorizations associated with Lesiem?instead, the densely layered music is rich with its own symbolism, mythology, and sonic mystery.

Where the world of fantasy and reality merge into one, Lesiem opens the heavens and paints the starry filled skies with the sensualness of operatic voices, worldbeat grooves, new age melodies and electronica elements, creating a musical genre they call "

Audio Remasterer: John Vestman.

Recording information: Hts Hansaton Studio, Berlin, Germany.

Translator: David Monnie.

Arrangers: Henning Westland; Heiko Jerke; Alex Wende.

Personnel: Thomas Pflanz (vocals, vocoder); Brit Beyer, Farid Shams, Diana Lasch, Lawrence Sello Sihlabeni, Felix Lauschus, Kira Calliess (vocals); Susanne Kirchbaum (soprano); Heiko Jerke, Sven Goiny (tenor); Alex Wende (guitar, programming); Pivo Deinert (guitar); Jacki Rezniecek (cello, double bass, fretless bass); Gunther Haussknecht (bagpipe); Henning Westland (programming).

Audio Mixer: Alex Wende.