Illyah Kuryahkin was the The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and the 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. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.