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Talent is a word that some of us I think take for granted a little. People with talent are not necessarily, very talented. Look at the sad excuses that you may see on anything related to the Simon Cowell global media steam train. Not necessarily talented. I define talent personally as being multi-tasking. Multi-skilled. Talent for me is combining several skills together in unison. Like Lenny Kravitz is. A multi-instrumental musician who has sold countless quality records. Like Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails who is the same. A personal favourite of mine, Chris Corner of IAMX. And now, just like Klayton Celldweller.

I had never heard of Celldweller before now but when I listened firstly to the track Eon – taken from Chapter 2 – I was taken by the scruff of the neck, levitated and slammed back down to Earth.

I’m a rocker at heart but I spent time in “kidulthood” mixing it up with clubbers so my musical tastes became quite diverse. This is awesomely diverse. Having intricate guitar riffs, broken beat drum tracks mixed up with frantic basslines and attacking, electronic, avant garde stuff. This is one man in a studio with an array of instruments producing his own work with waves, wobbles, glitches, the lot as well as his own vocals laid down.

There are bands that do this type of work. The Prodigy dabble with some rock in parts of their work. Pendulum more famously for combining the genres. A personal favourite of mine being Subsource who manage the crossover incredibly well. Like Reznor, this is one man.

After listening to the one track, I thought it best to progress through the releases so I restarted to the first in the series of chapters for Wish Upon A Blackstar.

As each track takes such a time to nurture and progress, Celldweller does two tracks at a time and releases them in stages. Five chapters make up Wish Upon A Blackstar and up to now we have three and next week we will have the fourth.

In the player below I’ve compiled all of the releases right up to chapter 4 inclusive. You’ll find meaty chords you would find in metal bands. Aggressive snares and cymbal clashes akin to heavy rock tracks mixed up with frenzied drum and bass style motions. Electronic breakbeats weaving throughout the tunes. Wahs and wubs that you would find in some dubstep records. I’m surprised that Lorin Bassnectar isn’t all over this and I hope he will be or at least collaborate.

The surprising part for me about all of the releases is the vocals. Controlled and well-balanced tones when it needs to be and then ear-drum annihilation the next. Serious passion and heartfelt suffering you may get from a boy band and then full-on might, hostility and anger with his savaging vocal assault.

Each track is varied with slightly different styles. More guitars on this, more harmonies on this, more screams on that, more electro on others. Dark, moody and ferociously lustful. Sinister, primeval and vigorous.

His debut album sold out just like Moby’s Play. Every track went to console games, TV shows, movies and throughout the media. It wouldn’t be a surprise if almost everyone on the planet has actually heard of Klayton’s material but not realised. This man is one of those rarities. Hugely successful without being ridiculously famous across the globe. I think that he soon will be.

As an appreciator of music and many styles, I would call Celldweller a talent. Stunning work.

Wish Upon A Blackstar, chapter 1 to 3 are out now. Chapter 4 is out on Monday July 18th 2011 and chapter 5 will follow suit soon. All of which released by FiXT Records.

Celldweller on:

Wish Upon A Blackstar by Celldweller – Chapters 1 – 4

The buying links within the player will take you to Amazon.co.uk.