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PARADISE LOST

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Quotes

"Paradise Lost is a very accomplished and inventive album that serves as a great cinematic journey, managing to effortlessly weave together so many different influences and drift in different directions, whilst maintaining a real sense of wonder and interest as to what is around the next corner. Like all good albums, this needs to be listened to in full and deserves repeated listens."

Loose Lips, Jake D. Archer

"The best, most exciting music’s will of course be those that push boundaries and reimagine the past in new shapes moulded into fresh forms. Inal Bilsel’s break taking new album falls headlong into those categories..."

Magazine Sixty, Greg Fenton

"Narration from Bilsel is mixed with his spellbinding compositions and sound design for a truly unique listening experience."

Pro Studio Masters, Editorial

"The album is like a finely embroidered tapestry whose melodic and atmospheric construction constantly pulls you towards imagining a vivid other world. [...] Inal succeeds in moulding a new sound out of the many genres that he has internalized over the years. In my opinion, the album heralds a new and powerful musical wind in the region’s musical corridors"

Mete Hatay

Quotes

Th Story

The Story

The nuclear war brought an uncharted business opportunity for the clandestine company Simex. Their simulated reality machines exploit the desire to escape the gloomy existence of the post-war. These highly addictive brain-mangling devices need pre-programmed tapes to work. In an unconscious altered state, each tape transports the user to a different “world”, sometimes even manufactured from memories. Although anyone can tamper with the contents of a tape, the original unaltered SimTapes - the most realistic of them all - are a lucky find.

Near the ruins of Fabulous Varosha -a post-apocalypse themed pre-war amusement park- a settler inadvertently acquires a SimTape from a traveling merchant. Theirs is a closed society, governed by an elder committee who insist the world beyond their settlement is inhospitable. At the heart of the community is their sole SimEX machine. The only form of entertainment around. Realising the significance of this new tape, the elders send him on a quest to search for its origins.

All clues point to a place called Memory Lane, a street full of tape shops. During his quest to find this elusive place he suffers from SimTape withdrawal symptoms. In a delusional state of mind, his perception of reality becomes a blur. Did he become a tapehead, experiencing a tailored simulation made from his fantasies? Or is he really the chosen one, destined to be the salvation of his people?

The Film

Pictures

I can’t breathe!
and now I can’t see
What’s going on?

“What a splendid night, fine masked man”
Her voice is familiar. Dova? I can’t tell from her mask and I can’t seem to answer, even though I try. “It sure is, my dear. Have you seen the king yet?” Did I just say that? What king? Where am I? An elaborate oversized hall. huge chandeliers and a yellow tint to just about everything. Then, a sudden rush of realization: It’s a masked ball. But what is a masked ball? I feel nauseous.

I found myself next to a long table of foods and drinks. It’s too crowded and noisy in here. I’m not used to this. I feel terrible. “Here Anton, have a drink, aren’t you enjoying the night?” I can’t see who is calling out to me. Anton? I vaguely remember being called that name before. “The king will be here any minute, so is the music and dance, cheer up already!” I drank what he gave to me. I then had one more and then another one in quick succession. “Ah! That’s the spirit!”

Time passed.
My vision is blurring.

People dancing everywhere. The noise grew louder and It’s barely tolerable. I’m dancing too. When did that happen? <please align ta…> what? who said that? I turned around and saw Dova, or so I think. “You’re acting strange tonight, darling” She leaned closer to me “Haven’t you had your fix?” Strangely, I now remember her. We came to this party together. This was the party we’ve been waiting for a long time. The war kept the king busy lately and we hadn’t had one of these nights for a long time. That fix she told me about, is that why I’m feeling like this? “What on earth did I take?” I must have said the last part aloud “I think you overdid it, my clumsy husband!” Yes, we are married. I remember everything! But the masks still frighten me, I don’t like it. “Please wake up” she said in a sharp and determined tone. “What? What do you mean?” to which she answered in the exact same tone “Please wake up”. I don’t understand. The colors are changing. The lights, they’re all fading away. Darkness surrounded us, pitch dark. But I can still see her in her blue vandykes and two-tone mask. “Please wake up” she said once again. I turned around frantically to comprehend what was going on. Was this some kind of a sick joke? “Please wake up” the voice is exactly the same. Flashing blue lights. Something is happening. I open my eyes. Were they closed? <Please wake up> I’m lying inside… inside what? I’m lying inside AL. <Please wake up>

I hate this tape. I’m sick and tired of it. It’s broken and useless! But that’s my only one… My turn is over. So long AL.

[The above text is taken from Paradise Lost blog, which served to build the storyworld of the album before it was released. Read more here]

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