Review Summary: Hexalyne continues to perfect the already perfected
Those that enjoy Autechre's late 90s-early-2000s-era glitchy, abstract IDM are in for a real treat-- Scillocsenports, the newest album from Romania's Hexalyne, and his fourth full length in just two and a half years, has just arrived, and with it comes a collection of the best of the best of modern-day IDM. While Hexalyne's influences are obvious -- Autechre, Richard Devine, Xanopticon, label-mate Access to Arasaka, among others -- Hexalyne has from the start of 2022's Tcaressets had his own signature punchy, glitchy sound that he's perfected and continued to build upon with each successive release.
Scillocsenports continues Hexalyne's trend of having each subsequent album being better than the last -- more depth, more precision in production, and more abstract, mind-warping IDM for fans of the genre. As an umbrella statement I find applicable here, in all honesty, the whole of this new release is crafted in the key of Autechre's "Surripere", in spirit, most of all, but also in its execution and impact on me as an avid IDM listener.
Like that legendary song from our favorite English duo, Scillocsenports does not rest on any set array or "formula" of glitchy electronics throughout its 50-plus minute length; each song evolves at its own speed, blending abstraction and melody in equal measure, the use of subtlety being Hexalyne's greatest strength as a songwriter.
"Scillopren Watt" is the perfect opener for this album, as well as being a great taste for those not previously acquainted with Hexalyne's music. The song plays out not too unlike Autechre's music during their Confield days-- refusing to settle in a set-song structure, per se, while making itself poignant and confident in its subtle melodic experimentation; abstraction and glitchy nuance, that keeps bringing listeners back for more and more and sounding better and better with each listen.
"Scillenvarii Folm" is the next immediate highlight; starting at a mid-pace tempo, the glitchy electronics become more exciting and complex as the song reaches its climax near the five-minute mark. Next, "Scilloacc" and "Scillentical" are a more restrained pair of tracks that remind me heavily of the second half of Hexalyne's late-2022 album, Null Surfaces, released on the label Point Source Electronics. Things slow down and become more atmospheric here; but it's merely a temporary calm before the build up to the final three songs.
"Scillodeccel" and the finale "Scillocalxiid", the latter coming in at eight and a half minutes, close Hexalyne's latest off in seminal fashion. The music is reflective and nuanced in its glitchy abstraction, constantly fresh and full of finely produced details that one won't pick up on and appreciate until after repeat listens. Such is the case with every one of Hexalyne's four albums up to this point -- actually, five albums, if you include his 2023 split-LP with the dnb artist Lain: there's so much going on here, but every beat and glitchy blast of synthesizer has its place.
Hexalyne has done quite a lot in his mere two and a half years of releasing music under his current moniker. While buzz around him is currently quiet, I doubt -- and hope -- it will stay that way for long. Just listen and take notice-- Hexalyne continues to evolve and perfect, and, given his prolific, impeccable track record, better and better music is on the way.
