Admittedly, I mostly listened to Illuvia when this project by Ludvig Cimbrelius appeared on A Strangely Isolated Place label, with the last record, Earth Prism, immediately grabbing my attention and propelling it to my Best of the Year lists. So I’m happy to [re]discover the earlier pieces, including first edits and demo versions, composed between 2015 and 2022 on Cimbrelius’ own LILA लीला imprint, his other home for music under Purl, Eternell, and Abraço de Vapor monikers. Once again, we are sun-soaked with atmospheric breaks, shimmering outstretched pads, and tight, punchy bass. It’s a pleasure to awaken to it on a bright Sunday morning, with a bit of sonic radiance, progressively exuberant chords, and ethereal floaty rhythms. “While it sometimes feels like we are lost in the dark, music can be a medium through which the light reaches us. This is the primary meaning and intent behind Illuvia.” I love this soft illumination, reminding me to reflect on all the good that’s still left in this world, even as reality is twisted by the ones creating their distortion. If you like this, be sure also to check out a complimentary release, Where Clouds Dissolve Into Sky, which you can pick up for free [in the month of June 2025] simply by being a fan. There’s also a continuous mix of this album, originally appearing in April via ASIP’s isolatedmix series, which you can stream here. May the light be with you. May the darkness fade away.
