Xela

John Twells, a Manchester, England-based multi-instrumentalist and producer, conceived Xela as the alias for his atmospheric, eclectic electronic productions that often lean toward darker tones. Early immersion in music came via his guitarist father, prompting Twells to study flute and saxophone in childhood before shifting to guitar during adolescence. After participating in several bands, he shifted to independent creation, discovering stronger motivation in electronic forms than in the metal, punk, and indie currents that had shaped his prior efforts. Demo submissions reached Metamatics' Lee Norris, who invited a track for a compilation and issued Xela's debut mini-album, For Frosty Mornings and Summer Nights, on Neo Ouija in 2003. Around the same period, Twells began working with Gabriel Morley, aka Logreybeam, under the duo name Yasume. City Centre Offices released Tangled Wool in 2004, a set of love songs that restored guitars to Twells' arrangements. Two years later Type, Twells' own imprint that also put out material by Logreybeam and Khonnor, presented The Dead Sea, a concept album concerning a zombie assault on a ship. Prog, sea shanties, Italian horror soundtracks, and noise informed the record, which included starkly atmospheric artwork by Matthew Woodson. Yasume's Where We're from the Birds Sing a Pretty Song, acknowledging David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti's influence on both Twells and Morley, appeared that year as well. Type reissued For Frosty Mornings and Summer Nights in 2007, while 2008 brought In Bocca al Lupo, music first created for a gallery installation exploring fear. Limited-edition releases on Digitalis, SMTG, and Static Caravan also appeared throughout this span.