Cult With No Name – X-Into-I (Album – CWNN Music)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Ambient-Pop.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: UK duo Cult With No Name strikes back with a new self-released opus. The band has been active for numerous years and can look back at an impressive discography, “X-Into-I” being their eleventh album thus far.
Content: The sound is already characterized by an electro-Pop basis recovered with a strong Ambient touch. Most of the songs have a wafting sensation which even evolves into a kind of Electro-Ballad style. The vocal production gives me the impression of a narrating, singing, style.
+ + + : This is a styled composition where especially the Cinematic/Ambient passages reveal the particular approach in sound. CWNN has always been a band with a very own approach, far away from established standards and definitely not a common project. I appreciate this way of doing but also the intelligent piano- and symphonic arrangements. “I’ll Spend 9 Lives With You” is a true, beautiful, song and a great exposure in the aforementioned ‘Ballad’-style. I also enjoyed some songs with more explicit rhythm like “Snake Oils” and “If You Were Here”.
– – – : I’m missing a bit more passion and variety in the vocal production. The album is also missing at least one dance track -although I realize it’s not the main focus of the band.
Conclusion: Electro/Ambient-Pop which isn’t easy to catch although enjoyable to listen to.
Best songs: “I’ll Spend 9 Lives With You”, “Snake Oils”, “If You Were Here”, “Not Afraid”.
Rate: 7.
Artist: www.cultwithnoname.com / www.facebook.com/cwnnofficial
Listen to “X-Into-I”:
About Cult With No Name
Cult With No Name, often abbreviated CWNN, is a German/English duo of Erik Stein and Jon Boux based in London. Formed in 2004, the band describe themselves as “electronic balladeers”, drawing on post-punk and modern classical influences. They debuted with “Paper Wraps Rock” in 2007, followed by “Careful What You Wish For” (2008), the film score “Lightwerx: The Cabinet of Dr Caligari” (2009), “Adrenalin” (2010), “Above as Below” (2012), “Another Landing” (2014), the soundtrack collaboration “Blue Velvet Revisited” with Tuxedomoon and John Foxx (2015), “Heir of the Dog” (2017), “Mediaburn” (2019) and “Nights in North Sentinel” (2021). Now releasing through their own CWNN Music label, the duo issued their eleventh album, “X-Into-I”, in 2023.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
