corin - Lux Aeterna (2023)

On her sophomore album ‘Lux Aeterna’, Ileto explores the idea of sound as a sentient being. Meaning ‘eternal light’ (latin), the title is named after a choral work by György Ligeti (20th century composer) which appears in the movie 2001:Space Odyssey during monolith’s discovery on the moon. Ileto is inspired by Ligeti’s use of micropolyphony – a tool whereby clusters of sound slowly merge creating amorphous cloud-like formations. Using granular synthesis, samples are warped beyond obscurity into alien-like textures that bend and mutate, clusters of string and vocal harmonies detuning and reemerging into swarms. Coming from a background in theatre and sound design, Ileto explores the illusion of sound as gravitational – levitating and disintegrating into a void, or perhaps floating into eternity.

Ileto’s deep appreciation of science fiction soundtracks is most felt on ‘Lux Aeterna’. Like a celestial opera, ecstatic trance is reimagined within the context of sacred liturgy – merging hyper-real soundscapes with gregorian chant and medieval instrumentation. Ileto moves in between moments of bold expansiveness and deep vulnerability and alienation. The warped percussion of ‘Sunta’ rumbles along like a pseudo-archaic codified ritual punctuated by the chanting of an... more