Levinsky is an electronic music producer from Helsinki, Finland. His full-length debut “Electra Complex” was released mid-2019. On October 2nd, 2020 he unveiled his latest opus entitled “Nocturnes” to the world.

The cover artwork was produced by artist Ninni Kairisalo of Kali Graphics. I quite like what they’ve done for Levinsky here, especially with the midnight wine color scheme. They also did the artwork for “Electra Complex.” I’m not entirely sure what’s going on here, but it kind of looks like a “girls only” orgy configured in the shape of a flowery inverted pentagram. Since the music presented very much embodies a dark psycho-sensual vibe I think that it fits in well with what Levinsky has done here.

Levinsky’s style on “Nocturnes” is self-described as cinematic post-synthwave/darkwave, which feels accurate to me. There are some very retro/modular vibes going on throughout this album that carry that familiar synthwave quality with it, “No Control (Love Theme)” and “Symptom of the Night,” are good examples of this. Generally though, I felt that this album leans very heavily into a romantic gothic influence, which is my fucking wheelhouse. I’ve been aware of Levinsky for quite some time, but I haven’t given his music a listen until now, I regret not jumping in sooner!

If I had to reference “Nocturnes” to what I already know, it sort of reminds me of a mixture of Confrontational meets Collide (especially their more recent albums), meets early 1990s Enigma. When I close my eyes to visualize what I feel when I listen to this album I don’t so much see solid images as I felt a massive aura of appreciation for a darkly erotic feminine force. “Nocturnes” is slow, carnal, and a ecstatic. And while I can try to compare it to other stuff I’ve heard out there, “Nocturnes” is distinctively its own thing without sounding too vampyric, too retro, or too ritualistic.

Five tracks on this LP are completely instrumental and serve as bookends to three gorgeous tracks featuring guest vocals by Enlia (France), Witch of the Vale (Scotland), and Bara Hari (United States). Much like a triptych, “Nocturnes” is configured into a cohesive narrative that isn’t you can appreciate fully until you listen to it a few times. “La Notte Oscura” and “No Control (Love Theme)” serve as the strongest instrumental “openers” leading into the vocal tracks here. Of the three songs with vocals “‘Un Coeur Dérangé” is the most explosive track on the album as a beautiful example of how to properly arrange and produce vocals. The French lyrics here perfectly fit the Marquis De Sade aesthetic of “Nocturnes.” Enlia’s voice reminds me a lot of Anette Olzon of Nightwish fame. It’s silky, well-recorded, and gentle. “The Strangest Flower (feat. Witch of the Vale)” offers up another well-produced vocal track which is the most retro of the three vocal tracks available here. This is primarily because of Levinsky’s choice to use a warm pulsing bass for the song’s low end. Don’t let that confuse you into think this is proper synthwave, however. Because it isn’t, and it’s better for it. There’s plenty of pianos and strings here that add an almost symphonic vibe in the song’s “bridge.” The subtle guitars on this song are a nice little surprise too and only add to Witch’s vocals during the chorus. There’s subtle pitch correction going on in this song that positively augments Witch’s voice to fit easier within the context of what Levinsky is accomplishing. Finally, Bara Hari makes an appearance to carve up some flesh on “Capitale De La Douleur.” Her performance is very Western in an Amy Lee sort of way. To me, it feels like a continuation of what she did on her debut “Pandora’s Box.” I quite like it.

Overall, “Nocturnes” is bad fucking ass. I will always appreciate music that accurately connects well-executed visual aesthetic with well-executed audio production. In my view you can’t have one without the other.

FOR FANS OF: Confrontational, Collide, Enigma, and people who just like darkly erotic vibes.

STAND-OUT TRACKS: “No Control (Love Theme),” “Un Coeur Dérangé,” “The Strangest Flower,” “Capitale De La Douleur”

Album Color Profile: #884EA0

You can find all things Levinsky at https://levinsky.bandcamp.com/