Illyah Kuryahkin
Illyah Kuryahkin (real name: Dean Wilson) was the The Man From U.N.C.L.E.-inspired alias of New York-based singer/songwriter Dean Wilson. After taking up piano and guitar as a child, Wilson studied music theory and technique in college; upon adopting his nom-de-rock, he began experimenting with tunings and harmonics, drawing on influences ranging from the shoegazer movement to Middle Eastern music to create an eclectic mutant pop hybrid.
After issuing a handful of singles recorded on Wilson's portastudio, including the single Lotus Pool, the first full-length Illyah Kuryahkin release, Count No Count, appeared on the Arena Rock Recording Co. label in 1996. Count No Count is a collection of odd lo-fi ditties, heavy on the psychedelic side of rock (Fuzzball).
Illyah Kuryahkin also released a split EP with Mitch Mitchell's Terrifying Experience in 1996 (self-titled: Mitch Mitchell / Illyah Kuryahkin), and contributed the track, Sundial, to Arena Rock's Fuel Soundtrack release in 1998.
The more professional (or, at least, more fully arranged) and less noisy Thirtycabminute, released in 1999, uses samples of instruments and lets the inspiration wander in jazz territory (the instrumental Vaval, the trip-hoppish Howidied and Thomverlaine). All of Illyah Kuryahkin's releases have been with the Arena Rock Recording Co. label.
Discography
Lotus Pool
1. Lotus Pool
2. Silk Road
Count No Count
1. Romeo
2. Marooned
3. What You Did Say
4. Bulletproof
5. Empire
6. Sundial
7. Fool
8. Novocain
9. Fuzzball
10. Ballade
11. Crow
12. Waltz
13. Daddy
14. Marble
Thirtycabminute
1. Blackpower
2. Lotuspool
3. Takinatrain
4. Thomverlaine
5. Sixchannels
6. Vaval
7. Everest
8. Howidied
9. Aurora
10. Hey
11. Waltz