The Beauty Above- Lust

Written by Shaun Phelps

Artist: [The Beauty Above]
CD Title: [Lust]
Label: [Purge Records]
Reviewer: [ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ]
Date: [05-25-2005]

The Beauty Above’s Lust EP is the first solo release of musical jack-of-all-trades Alex Koffler. Lust, on first glance is a modest release, housed in a simple cardboard sleeve with only five tracks. It doesn’t remain modest for long, though. Once the “Play” button is pressed Lust practically bursts at the seams with Middle Eastern tinged coldwave/alternative rock sounds.

Koffler’s influences are quickly evident, and the respect he has for iconic artists such as Jim Morrison, Bill Laswell, and Trent Reznor show through almost immediately. Koffler manages to mesh the aesthetics of all these and more, taking the writing style of Jim Morrison and adapting it into the vocal style of what could best be described as Alice in Chains meets Led Zeppelin.

Carrying the weight of these alternative rock influences are heavy, crunching guitars, smartly-programmed synth lines, and a smattering of Middle Eastern samples and music; keeping the sound tight, and Lust's songs interesting for industrial and mainstream music listeners alike.

The Beauty Above’s Lust makes it known that Alex Koffler is here and is ready to take on both underground and popular radio. For him to be able to boast Lust as only his first solo release is impressive. Lust is an ambitious release and I expect Alex Koffler’s name will gain esteem and spread rapidly upon the release of his full length.

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