Bela

Critics have often likened the group Bela to the ominous atmosphere of a Bela Lugosi picture and the compositional style of Béla Bartók, a pairing that captures how the band’s sound merges dark, enigmatic tones with expansive, richly textured arrangements drawn from contrasting sources. The project began in 1997 when singer-songwriter Jeff Hogan and drummer Fred Pisciotta—both of whom had appeared as featured zombies in a George Romero movie—reassembled remnants of New York City’s Cultural Exhaust. They were soon joined by bassist Mauro Felipe and Julia Kent, formerly the cellist for Rasputina. Following a deal with Mother West, the band issued its first EP, Exit Music, which unexpectedly resonated in Belarus and Germany and earned widespread praise across Eastern Europe. Their initial full-length album, Til Summer Ends, followed in April 2000 and received comparable critical approval.