Customer Reviews

Illuminate

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

 

 

Qntal - for those not immersed in both the medieval and electronic music underground - may come as quite a shock.

Their basis is Estampie - a German medieval ensemble playing very traditional songs on authentic instruments. Their influences are drawn from the member's diverse backgrounds such as the important electronic act: Deine Deine Lakaien. Qntal however, does something different. They are experimental and at times become ambient and trance-like. They fuse electronica and traditional music to create a sound which is dreamy, electrifying, moody and bright.

This CD, featuring many remixes and remasters is a great example of their musical spectrum. It is also a very accessible way for those not use to world or medieval music to begin to appreciate the subtleties of these genres. Long time fans will likely appreciate the renovations undertaken when resculpting these tracks. Most of these edits are slightly more dancy and less trancy than the originals. They are neither superior or inferior but simply different - and bear listening to.

I recommend everything Qntal has released, but this disc is an excellent starting point.

I am really very excited about Qntal, they have all the elements that I really LOVE in a band and it all fits nicely. Lovely vocals, lush orchestrations and electronics, it is all there and then some.....starting with a HUGE ethnic smorgasbord. If you like Loreena McKennitt, Enya and Dead Can Dance you HAVE to give these folks a listen.
Trust me you will not be dissapointed.

For Qntal fans I think this is a must. For those new to Qntal... I am not even sure how to describe this music, it does not fit a mold, but I can't imagine how someone couldn't like it :) It's sort of a combination of medieval/renaissance, techno, and industrial, and they really make this combination work! Very creative music, and the singing is gorgeous.

The remixes are great, generally they are faster-paced than the original versions with more of a beat... maybe I could describe this as a 'clubby' or 'more danceable' version of a regular Qntal CD... and really I love their music so much that any varying renditions or remixes are very welcome! The extra goodies (video and pics) are great too. Especially for the price, this is totally worth it.

Qntal, unfamiliar to me at the time, started showing up everywhere--in my Amazon recommendations; magazine articles I read; compilations I purchased...they were impossible to dismiss! So when I was fortunate enough to find a used copy of 'Illumination' there was no reluctance to buy it, and not only was my curiousity of the group piqued but my thirst for something new and fresh was finally sated!

The name QNTAL is a nonexistent word that came about in a fateful dream Syrah had one night, and it fits this band perfectly as they defied being labeled in any specific genre when they were first formed in '92.

To me Qntal sounds a lot like Corvus Corax in the sense that they fuse traditional medieval music, using instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes, in with modern-day electronics. Qntal, however, is led by a female vocalist (Syrah) and is a bit more melodic and darker in tone.

With the exception of one song (my introduction to Qntal), I have yet to hear the original versions of all the rest so it should be interesting to hear how they defer from the ones heard here since 'Illumination' is a collection of remixes...most of which are amplified with club-friendly beats that range from dance to industrial to exotic world rhythms.

This record has definitely taken a hold of me and I plan on buying their other works very soon! I've gone far too long without knowing Qntal's music.

About the Band:
Qntal is a medieval electronic-rock / darkwave German band that formed back in 1991. Founding members Michael Popp and vocalist Syrah were joined by keyboardist Fil Groth in 2002 after Ernst Horn's earlier departure. Fil brought a bit of a stronger mainstream electronica influence with him (filling in Horn's more experimental take on music), making a noticeable difference between the band's first two albums (Qntal I and Qntal II) and its more recent releases.

Fun at home, on the radio, or at a club floor, the extremely popular band is an excellent way to expand people's musical interests into other genres. Featuring excellent vocals, smooth electronics / keys, and a wide range of non-traditional instruments: Qntal is a multi-dimensional gateway for fans of medieval, darkwave, industrial, synthpop, and folk music.

About the Album:
Illuminate is an expanded version of the 4-track single Nihil that was released in Europe in 2003 (all 4 tracks on Nihil are included in Illuminate, so do not worry about possibly missing some good Qntal). This album and Nihil really compliment Qntal III: Tristan Und Isolde, where Ecce Gratum (tracks 2 & 8), Entre Moi (track 9), and Vedes Amigo (tracks 5) were originally released in different more traditional versions.

The remixes on Illuminate feature more aggressive electronics and would generally work well on a dancefloor. After Illuminate, Qntal decided to start featuring their harder remixes of their more traditional album releases via second bonus discs packaged with limited edition versions of the albums. If you enjoyed the Illuminate remixes, I highly encourage you to purchase the 2-disc limited editions of Qntal V: Silver Swan Limited and Qntal VI: Translucida.

Recommended Tracks:
- Vedes Amigo Illuminate
- Omnis Mundi Illuminate
- El Sendero Hacia Monserrat

Similar Artists:
- Corvus Corax
- Faun
- Estampie
- Irfan
- Helium Vola
- Unto Ashes
- Mediaeval Babes

Reminiscent of the best of Loreena McKennitt, Qntal's "Illuminate" contains remixes and singles versions of some of the more familiar tracks from their catalog.

While, as other reviewers have noted, the synthed-out rhythm and percussion can be distracting at points, I find the combination to be exhilerating when (don't laugh) playing RPG-style video games. The lyrics, not in English, do not distract from the task at hand (slaying stuff) while the bagpipes, squeaky horns, heavy percussion, and lilting angelic vocals add high energy to the medieval atmospherics.

Standout Tracks:

Vedes Amigo Illuminate - the best of the lot - fairly groovy with a hook-laden chorus.

Am Morgen Fruo - one of the better "battle music" pieces - high energy tempo with a driving kettle drum.

El Sendero Hacia - all about the atmosphere here - think vistas, wide plains, towering spires of rock - all evoked in a chanty madrigal.

Recommended for gamers, belly dancers, and anyone who enjoys post-modern medieval music with a bit of a groove.

This group could do without the synthesized rhythm. It intrudes too much and is distracting. Furthermore, it is evident that the percussion is canned.