Franco-Austrian ensemble Elend formed in the early ‘90's and initially dedicated itself to interpreting an ancient, three-part ‘prayer of darkness' -- the ‘Lecons de Tenebres' -- which, according to Roman Catholic liturgy is to be performed in the three holy days leading up to Easter. Carefully orchestrated for maximum dramatic effect, this gothic/ambient cycle of three masses appeared in the form of 1994's Lecons de Tenebres, 1996's Les Tenebres du Dehors and 1998's The Umbersun / Au Trefond des Tenebres, with 1997's Weeping Nights offering the only departure from Elend's unique enterprise. A five-year silence followed, after which the trio of Iskander Hasnawi, Sebastien Roland and Renaud Tschimer resurrected Elend with 2003's Winds Devouring Men -- itself based on a French poem detailing an odyssey of self-discovery and resuming the group's flirtation with the ambient avant-garde. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia