Recens Aetas Signum by Ritus XI: A Dive into Experimental Electronica
Alright, let’s talk about Recens Aetas Signum, the 1993 album from Ritus XI. If you’re into electronic music with a weird, experimental twist, this one might just grab your attention. Released under Abyss Records in Germany, it’s got that raw early-90s vibe but feels like it’s coming from another dimension entirely. You know those albums where you’re not even sure what’s happening half the time? Yeah, this is one of those.
First off, there’s no way I can skip mentioning the track “Untitled.” I mean, come on—it doesn’t even have a name, and yet it sticks in my head like gum on a shoe. It starts off all glitchy and chaotic, like someone dropped a synth down the stairs (in a good way). Then, outta nowhere, these haunting pads creep in, giving it this eerie, cinematic feel. Honestly, listening to it feels like walking through an abandoned factory at night—creepy but kinda beautiful too. Every time I hear it, I imagine some dystopian sci-fi movie playing in my brain. Like… why isn’t this track in a film already?
Another standout for me is “Signum Procession” (or whatever it’s called—I’m going off memory here). This one has this hypnotic rhythm that sneaks up on you. At first, it’s all subtle clicks and drones, almost like background noise. But then BAM! These pulsing basslines kick in, and suddenly you’re nodding along whether you want to or not. There’s something oddly satisfying about how unpredictable it feels while still being totally immersive. Kinda like when you zone out during a long drive and snap back realizing you’ve been humming along to staticky radio signals.
What makes Recens Aetas Signum special isn’t just its sound—it’s how unapologetically weird it is. Back in ‘93, most electronic stuff was either super danceable or trying way too hard to be chill. Ritus XI didn’t care about any of that. They went full-on mad scientist mode, throwing everything into the mix and seeing what stuck. And honestly? A lot of it does stick—in your ears, in your mind, maybe even in your dreams if you’re lucky (or unlucky).
So yeah, this album’s not gonna be everyone’s cup of tea. Some folks will probably find it too messy or pretentious, but hey, that’s part of its charm. Listening to it feels like peeking inside someone’s brain while they’re building a spaceship out of scrap metal. Weird analogy? Sure. Accurate? Absolutely.
Here’s the thing though: after spinning this record a few times, I started thinking… what if Ritus XI were making music today? Would they blow up on TikTok with their glitchy beats, or would people scroll past because it’s “too much”? Either way, I’m glad we’ve got gems like Recens Aetas Signum reminding us that music doesn’t always need to make perfect sense—it just needs to exist.
