SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: XOL MEISSNER – EXCESS OF LOSS

XOL MEISSNER
EXCESS OF LOSS
INDEPENDENT

If you stick only to the face value of some information, it just might take you to a wrong track, and there is quite a bit of that here.

First of all, Xol Meissner is an alias for a Swiss-born, NYC-based artist Mauro Hertig. Secondly, Excess Of Loss is dubbed as his debut album, which is only partly true, if you consider that this is his first ‘pop’ release, as Hertig already made a name for himself as a composer of modern classical music.

And then there is that dreaded ‘pop’ word. Sure, Hertig is singing here in his deep, Nick Cave/Scott Walker-like voice, but his songwriting here exposes his classical background and at the same time touches again on those Cave/Walker comparisons. It all sounds a bit dark and ominous at times, but for all the right reasons and all the right moments at that.

Oh, and if those taking a look at the tracklist wonder what those numbers stand for it was Hertig’s decision to write 100 songs in his lifetime, and this is where the countdown starts.

Artist Links