For those well plugged in, Eli August is a name that should be familiar. He is the talented musician who headlined at the acclaimed inaugural voyage of TeslaCon. His last EP, I Was Already Too Late, has been featured prominently in the musical outlets for steampunk music I follow (such as Sepiachord and the Clockwork Cabaret). Koschkoreck’s latest release – the first full length self-released album as Eli – is called Let This House Burn Slowly. It’s a musical exploration into the somber sounds of a poetic prodigy.

I must disclose that I had to put down my DJ hat for this one. As a DJ, when I screen new music I listen for songs that are upbeat, high-tempo, and have a good danceable rhythm. This album had none of these things. However, when I listen to the album holistically as an aficionado of musical talent, it becomes an impressive tour de force for the ears.

The first two tracks merely set the tone for the listener, with a violin solo leading into a choir piece that had me raising an eyebrow wondering what would come next. The third track, “An Abandoned Building,” really begins the album’s narrative. Eli’s musical style seems simple, but there is a joy in listening to an old pump organ underneath a poetic vocal verse sung with such an emotional depth… it grabs you and communicates an isolation and loneliness more than most pictures could. Following this track are songs of heartache, longing, emptiness, and more, painting a stark, sullen picture of the album – a somber wasteland. It feels raw, moving, and sincere.

Specific tracks convey this emptiness further, with floor creaking sounds, as well as other echoes and rough patches that accentuate this feeling and enhance the emotional palette further on the album. It took multiple listenings to really clearly parse the songs from one another, as each song sailed seamlessly into the next to paint the portrait of a man alone, singing of his pain.

Highlights include “Second Story,” which uses an upright bass and concertina to accentuate the vocal lyrics of love’s loss. “Crawling Again,” with its haunting violin and cello parts, adds a rich texture to a theme of regret. “I Sang To You In The Darkness Of Our Room, But I Was Already Too Late” is yet another clearly polished song that is musically rich and poetic.

If I had any criticism of this album, it would be that it seemed almost a bit too dark. This is entirely personal on my part, as I am by nature a rather upbeat and energetic person. And, while I would not change a single song in the album, I would have liked to have smiled once or twice during the listening. However, Eli August’s work is almost gothic with its tones, words, and musical voyage. Let This House Burn Slowly is an extension of the austere work of Eli’s prior EP and goes far in defining our good Mr. August as the modern melancholy musical equivalent of Edgar Allen Poe.

If you want an album that is solidly produced, with tracks that progress incredibly well from one to the next, and would make for perfect parlor room entertainment, I recommend this album highly. You can purchase Eli August’s album directly from his website.

Doctor Q is the Media Editor for Steampunk Chronicle. He fancies himself an acoustic arranger of music and founder of the Artifice Club.