Veiled – El temps no passa LP

White Denim

Veiled is the bicontinental duo of Robert Francisco (M Ax Noi Mach, Dexter Industries) and Arnau Sala (Exoteric Continent, Vactor). Although I don’t speak spanish I’m going to take a wild guess and assume that the title translates to “The time does not pass” (or something like it). This new record combines the different styles that Veiled has explored previously yet keeps the project at an unfaltering march forward in terms of evolving their sound.

Side A features two tracks with the first entitled Unmanifested Nature taking up the bulk of the side. This track has more in common with Veiled’s cassette release Museu Secret because it is slow and plodding and doesn’t embrace the synth pop leanings of the their previous self-titled LP. Instead it’s a plodding industrial track with slow heady beats and excellent shifting sound design elements layered beneath. I’m not crazy about the kick drum sound utilized here as it’s very clicky but at least it offers a weird perspective to the overall mood and works to abstract the sound. In Tour de nit – the following track – the faster more dancy side of Veiled is found again yet this time with residual industrial elements echoing and howling alongside the driving beats.

Side B slows things down again with Stairs and White Walls which very much makes me think of late 90s Vinyl Communication material; stuff like Lesser, Incoherent and other excellent electronic acts. Noticeable subtleties here include the great work with the tom-influenced percussion sounds; the subtle alternating harmonies and synth ostinato all calling and responding to the carefully placed cymbals. The closer Coa transparent takes the sound even further and harkens back to some Aphex Twin Ambient Works Vol. II or Coil with its insistent yet contemplative rhythms and soaring accompanying drones. Veiled gets deep with this track and manages to evoke quite an esoteric mood which I am really digging.

I wasn’t really psyched about El temps no passa when I first heard it but I have to say it’s grown on me immensely and now I am absolutely enjoying this excellent release. Veiled combines their previous sounds and styles together perfectly and manages to capture a rare atmosphere while keeping my head nodding to these very classy and original beats. Amazing composition and sound design for this act which just keeps impressing.

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