Xela :: Tangled Wool (City Centre Offices, CD)

Xela, aka 23 year-old John Twells (and Type label co-owner), returns with the sophomore album Tangled Wool on Germany’s City Centre Offices label. Where Xela’s first album, For Frosty Mornings and Summer Nights (Neo Ouija) was filled with atmospheres and glitches, here his sound has developed into a more song-based, guitar-infused, blissed-out venture.

Tangled Wool spans eight tracks that form a nice front-to-back listen. The tempos and moods shift hold interest, and their seems to  almost be a story-arc to the tracks. Mr. Twells even gets vocals in to a song entitled “Drawing Pictures of Girls,” giving it a very dreamy feel.

This album could pass as a sort-of reverse-soundtrack – where the music comes first and the visual would come second. In fact, my favorite way to listen to this album is to put it on and make up stories to go along with the songs. This album will go nicely on your shelf next to Arovane’s Tides or something from The Album Leaf. Tangled Wool is a very enjoyable, recommended release.

Tangled Wool is out now on City Centre Offices.