Llumen – The Dark In Her Eyes (EP – Alfa Matrix)
Genre/Influences: IDM, Electro-Ambient, Experimental.
Format: Digital.
Background/Info: Four years after the debut album “The Memory Institute” Belgian solo-project Llumen –driven by Pieter Coussement, strikes back with this EP announcing the new full length “Polygon Heart”. The EP reveals two new songs plus remixed versions, which seem to exorcise personal demons.
Content: Llumen strikes back with a high-tech title track, which reminds me once again of the sound intelligence of Haujobb. A perfect mix between Ambient-like atmospheres with an astral dimension and slow, danceable rhythms with clear, powerful vocals on top. “The Path That Leads Me Home” sounds rather similar, but with an extra ‘dance’-led on top while hopping sequences inject some extra dynamic into the song.
The title song has been remixed by Implant, Entrzelle and Auger while the Antibody made a remix of the other track.
+ + + : I personally consider Llumen together with Circumpolar as two of the most ‘intelligent’ Electro acts from the Alfra Matrix roster. Llumen has its own sound and style, which is a sonic fusion between different influences. Definitely into electronic music, but also Ambient-like while refined with Electro-Pop and even Dance-elements it resulted into sophisticated and accessible music. It might appeal to Haujobb lovers, but I personally prefer Coussement’s vocals instead of Daniel Myer. “The Dark In Her Eyes” is a well-crafted and accomplished piece. It also inspired Implant, but especially Entrzelle to achieve great remixes. Entrzelle’s remix is even more sophisticated than the original version.
– – – : The B-side cut “The Path That Leads Me Home” reveals great ideas, but the lead is somewhat ordinary and too Dance-driven.
Conclusion: “Llumen is back on track and that’s great news for all Electro fine tasters.
Best songs: “The Dark In Her Eyes – Entrzelle Mix”, “The Dark In Her Eyes”, “The Dark In Her Eyes – Implant Mix”.
Rate: (7 ½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/Llumen-official-192854384064057
Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix Read the news on ‘The Dark In Her Eyes’.
About Llumen
Llumen is the Belgian electronic solo project of Pieter Coussement. It started as a three-piece in the first decade of the 2000s and continued as a one-man project from 2009, mixing old-school EBM, future-pop, techno and IDM. Llumen signed to Alfa Matrix and debuted on the label in 2016 with the EP Cold In December, followed by the double-CD debut album The Memory Institute in 2017; Coussement discussed that record in the ‘Click Interview’ with Llumen of February 2017.
“The Dark In Her Eyes” was released by Alfa Matrix on 2 April 2021 as a six-track download. Alfa Matrix wrote on Bandcamp that Coussement “went through some serious health crisis moments the last few years” and that the new songs reflect “that very personal post-surgery rebirth”. The tracks are “The Dark In Her Eyes”, “The Path That Leads Me Home”, “The Dark In Her Eyes (Implant Mix)”, “The Path That Leads Me Home (Antibody Mix)”, “The Dark In Her Eyes (Entrzelle Mix)” and “The Dark In Her Eyes (Auger Mix)”.
The EP preceded Polygon Heart, which Alfa Matrix released on 18 June 2021 in digital and CD formats and Side-Line reviewed in September 2021. The EP “Die Stille Totgeschwiegen” followed in 2023 and the album The Breaking Waves in 2024, issued as a limited 2CD set; Side-Line reported on the album Winter Eden in August 2026. “The Dark In Her Eyes” is the project’s third Side-Line review.
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