Scott Michaels – Ex Tenebris (self-release, 2023)
American multi-instrumentalist and composer Scott Michaels has released a new, otherworldly dark ambient solo album called Ex Tenebris. This crossover cinematic recording diverges from his previous heavy metal musical endeavors and offers a deep exploration of unfathomable, dismal dream worlds and melancholic themes.
Drawing inspiration from avant-garde cinematic composers like Arnold Schoenberg and Olivier Messiaen, as well as Anatole France’s literary work “La Révolte des Anges,” Michaels takes listeners on a journey through despair, gloomy atmospheres and darkness using eerily beautiful music. In terms of musical genres, Scott Michaels skillfully intertwines neoclassical music with expansive ambient electronic soundscapes and acoustic instruments from various musical traditions.
Ex Tenebris features Gabriella Naashiif’s enchanting operatic and Middle Eastern vocal melodies, while Michaels presents his versatility as an instrumentalist by performing various string accompaniments and integrating synthetic Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) elements.
Musicians: Scott Michaels on erhu, guitar viol, cello, keyboards, guitar ambience Gabriella (aka Laylah) Naashiif on female vocals.
Buy Ex Tenebris.