Customer Reviews

Excelsis - A Dark Noel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For anyone who is not familiar with gothic or etherial music,This cd is a wonderful place to start. Many of the styles represented on each song is the normal stylings of each band and since I have many cd's from the bands that appear on the compilation I wanted to make a quick review highlighting the best songs that appear on the cd. The first few songs really makes the cd start off slower then it should, The disc really doesnt kick in until the track by This Ascension which (as always) is a huge highlight on this mix as they always seem to brighten any sampler release that Projekt seems to do. Thier version of Carol of the bells should be sampled but even the samples doesnt do this gorgeous song the justice it deserves.This Ascension's other material is also just as wonderful as this track. Area is a newer one that Im not as familiar with but the haunting female vocals here is almost tear jerking and extremly beautiful. LoveLiesCrushing sounds like what would happen if Skinny Puppy would get ahold of an etherial song and distort the music slightly. Im still not sure what I think of the song but its unusual to say the least. Black tape for a blue girl keeps thier haunting sound and style on Oh Chanukkah, the backing chants and lush guitars remain in pace. This is a wonderful addition to the cd.Sorrow's version of The little drummer boy is perhaps one of the most impressive I have ever heard. Complete with howling wind,gothic keyboards and of course the drumming. Perfect. Lycia teaming up with The unquiet void was something I kind of expected a little more from but it stays up to par with the normal stylings of the Lycia cd The burning circle. I usually am not the biggest Eva O fan but she is slightly better then usual with this version of O Holy Night. The remix of Stille nacht i am still somewhat unsure of as well. Its interesting and not quite what I expected. Attrition ends the cd with a wonderful rendition of Silent Night. One of my main complaints honestly falls in with some of the artists that was missed over on the compilation. Sadly Projekt artists like Voltaire and Mira are missing from the release. The reason it also got 4 instead of 5 stars is the fact that is also using a few of the same songs used more then once without adding much else extra to make the songs differant & also with the cd starting off so slow without anything really standing out just does not appeal to me. Exelsis is definatly a great Christmas cd to play when needing background music or hosting a holiday open house but dont expect to start a party with this cd.

I've been wanting to check out the Excelsis compilations from Projekt records for a very long time now but I always seem low on cash around the holidays (gee, I wonder why?) and never end up buying them. However, this year I was lucky enough to find 'v1 - A Dark Noel' used for a reasonable price. I did the smart thing and started emptying my wallet early; thus finishing my shopping before Thanksgiving so I was finally able to get this.

It's not that I don't like Christmas music (quite the contrary, actually) but I usually try and restrain myself from giving in and purchasing any since you can't listen to it whenever you want. But, then again, I do find myself enjoying the few CDs I do own that are festive. They're like hidden gems I get to rediscover every year and this is no exception. I'm glad I have this album in my collection but I am disappointed in 'A Dark Noel'. I think it's safe to say I find half the songs pleasurable and the other half intolerable. In all its many forms and styles, Goth is definitely my favorite genre so I thought it was a brilliant idea to select a bunch of artists that fit into that category and have them put together their own spin on some classic tunes, giving the usual approach to this joyful season a gloomier appeal for us lovers of the night. But while some were successful, others failed miserably. This type of music isn't supposed to be cheery so I was expecting and even hoping for a darkened tint to be cast over the melodies but some fall a little too deep into their shadowy vortex. I do find the eerie "We Three Kings" by Lycia to work but I can hardly stand the extremely low baritone of Padraic Ogl on "The First Noel" by Thanatos or the annoying static noise with faint, uninspired singing in the distance on "Jingle Bells (Snowblower)" by Loveliescrushing. There are, however, a few songs that save this record as otherwise resulting in disaster, such as the lovely orchestration of "What Child Is This?" by Balderas & Osborn, the somewhat upbeat "Welcome Christmas" from Dr. Seuss' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" by Love Spirals Downwards, the ethereal vocal layerings of This Ascension's "Carol Of The Bells", and the pagan dance of "A Winter Wassail" by Faith and the Muse, which sounds very similar to Blackmore's Night. But even Black Tape for a Blue Girl's "Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah" was pretty lack-luster so 'A Dark Noel' only receives an average rating.

Despite my slight disappointment, I still hope to check out 'v2 - A Winter's Song', and 'v3 - A Prelude', which is only available at projekrecords.com, where you can also purchase the box set featuring the entire Excelsis collection.

What I expected to hear was various gothic bands administer the atomic drop to various Christmas songs (and one Chanukah song). Some of the songs fulfill that expectation. A lot of them are just good solid renditions of the original songs ("A Winter Wassail", by Faith and the Muse, is a good example of this), which are probably much funnier if you're familiar with more of the band's own miusic. All told, a solid album, but not exactly what I had in mind.

I find this album to be amoung the most captivating of my Christmas music collection. It is lush, lovely, inventive and haunting. ambient and etherial, it puts a whole new wonder to some of the classic songs we associate with Christmas. there is a dark, pensive quality about it...if you're wanting an alternative to the fizzed up pop Christmas Carols, add this one to your wish list.

even if you've never heard of any of the musicians, buy this disc...
some of the contributers include:

Arcanta, Love Spirals Downwards, This Ascention, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Lycia, Eva O, Faith and the Muse....

a Projekt records release, spearheaded by Sam Rosenthal.

The traditional Christmas music in a dark, mysterious way. Beautiful voices and soft music. Definitely a must for the holidays.

Instead of enduring the Best of Aled Jones, Jingle Cats, or whatever else constitutes as Christmas music in your relatives household, treat them (and yourself) with the dulcet sounds of Excelsis. It consists of Projekt label artists and other renowned goth/ethereal/darkwave acts, all doing covers of christmas carols and other traditional, seasonal songs.

With exquisite atmospheric artwork and music, this compilation evokes Christmas in a dignified, different and oddly nostalgic way. Despite the seasonal theme throughout, it manages to do so without being overtly religious or redundant. Most artists retain their own trademark style and deliver the carols with the same passion and musical quirks as they would their own compositions and I think that is what is inherently fascinating about this collection.

Interestingly, it is possible to forget that you are listening to Christmas carols and instead indulge purely in the music.

My favourite tracks are This Ascension "Carol of the Bells"; Black Tape for a Blue Girl "Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah", and, rather appropritely, Eva O with "O Holy Night". Faith and the Muse add a pagan touch with their "A Winter Wassail"; and my own personal favourite, the brilliant collaboration between Lycia and The Unquiet Void for a mournful off-beat masterpiece, "We Three Kings".

The only drawback, of course, is that these songs are really only appropriate during December's festive season, unless of course, like that old song says, you wish it could be Christmas every day.

The play list listed for this CD is WRONG. I needed the winter waissel song for a dance and it is not on this CD. War is over by the Cruxshadows is on the actual CD. Please check other sites to get actual play list.

Seeing as how Halloween is my second-favorite holiday (behind Christmas, doncha know), I was rather fiendishly delighted to discover that there was such a thing as a "dark" Christmas album. Decided to buy this one and was not disappointed; these are excellent renditions of traditional Christmas/Hannukah songs, and I must say I was particularly blown away by "Welcome Christmas"; who would have thought that a jingle from "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" could be made to sound so, well . . . beautiful?

Looking for an alternative to Christmas music that's as sweet as a candy cane? Tired of the same-old-same-old at Yuletide? You can't go wrong here. Recommended.

Cheers.

I have to give this cd 5 stars just for Sorrow's version of Little Drummer Boy. This is the most amazing interpretation of a Christmas song I've ever heard. I wish she had an album. Oh, yeah, and most of the other songs are good too!

I was very fortunately recently to find a copy of EXCELSIS: A DARK NOEL at my local library last weekend. I have been trying to get a hold of a copy of this version for some time now. Last year Projekt Records had released an updated version of EXCELSIS: A DARK NOEL which included a good number of songs from the 1997 version.

I really don't like a lot of Christmas music because they tend to be bland and dull but I really like EXCELSIS because it appeals to the goth in me. EXCELSIS is a compilation of Christmas songs that have been re-interpreted by an array of goth artists courtesy of Projekt Records. The music is exquisite to say the very least. The shoegazing, atmospheric melodies of the likes of Love Spirals Downards ("Welcome Christmas"), and This Ascension ("Carol of the Bells")adds a new dimension to the traditional songs. One of my favorite songs is "The First Noel" by Thanatos. The first time I heard the song I thought it was Voltaire but it isn't. I liked how deep the singer's voice is. SuchiKachis Etbu's version of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" is quite lovely to listen to. The ethereal vocals matches well with the delicate melodies.

I liked most of the songs but there were a few tracks that I could have easily lived without hearing. Arcanta's version of "Carol of the Bells" is dull and lifeless. I definitely preferred This Ascension's version. Eva O's 'unique' interpretation of "O Holy Night" made me cringe. Eva O's voice tends to do that so no points from me for that horrid version. I also disliked a lot Autopsia's "Stille Nacht (g) RAVE remix". The production of the album isn't all that great either.

For all the flaws though, I still enjoy listening to EXCELSIS: A DARK NOEL. It is a great take on traditional Christmas music. I definitely recommend this album (if you can find it) for those who like untraditional Christmas music.