*100 copies limited edition* Nitechord is an intercontinental ambient-tech duo that has so far issued only two remixes, but they emerge in full form on Lume, a début that extols the calm and mystery of night through mid-tempo pulses and shadowy whispers. Their initial cassette demo landed in Past Inside the Present's mailbox in 2022, devoid of credits or other biographical information, accompanied only by a brief quatrain:

“We hope
there is room enough
in your world
for this work.”

Those original recordings were so captivating in their raw form that they are issued here essentially untouched, other than by the mastering work of James Bernard at Ambient Mountain House.

The half-dozen pieces of Lume are enriched on the CD and digital versions by the duo’s two previously issued remixes, as well as one alternate take, elaborating on the album’s themes with slowly unfurling grace. “LLø (remix of zakè)” sees yawing strings and low hums appear through dense fog, as it gradually enters a realm of astral white noise across nearly nine minutes. By contrast, “Subtle (remix of Joachim Spieth)” offers an almost celebratory energy, encapsulating the duo’s aesthetic in an economical burst of thump and murmur. “Absent (Quiet Mix)” rounds out the bonus material with a stripped-back version of the album cut, highlighting its delicately picked guitars and melancholy lamentations.