Review: Sounds Of New Soma - La Grande Bellezza

As well as running the rather wonderful Tonzonen record label, Dirk Raupach is also one half of Sounds Of New Soma along with Alexander Djelassi. For the uninitiated, SONS specialise in experimental takes on neo-krautrock verging on the ambient...they produce some of the most deeply meditative stuff around today but all with a whiff of genuine kosmische. Their previous album, 'Moebius Tunnel' was a sublime record but with 'La Grande Bellezza' they have surpassed themselves; rich, luxurious soundscapes which simultaneously challenge and soothe the listener.

'Bundesgartenschau' kicks things off with wooshing spacey sounds underscored by a deep, resonating bass line but very soon into the track a subtle guitar motif is heard, almost eastern in aspect, and the crystalline ringing of a cymbal. As the track progresses the rhythm becomes more pronounced but not at the expense of the lilting melody and cosmic vibes. 'Der Gruene Pilz' sees SONS indulging their challenging streak - a lone, echo-laden voice intoning (in German, naturally) over ritualistic bell chimes and short stabs of percussion. Obviously not speaking German I did not have a bloody clue as to what was being said but the overall effect was, I found, slightly disturbing but I like to be challenged like that in a recording. 'Einheit des Lichtes' is a wonderful track...it harks back to the glory days of the Berlin school of electronica and there is more than a touch of NEU! about it. It has a deep, rich feel and has been constructed beautifully. 'Garten des Lichtes' opens with an oscillating drone that buzzes through your head like an outraged bee only to be replaced by deep stabs of synths that sound positively menacing. It has a hauntological edge to it as well...it took me back to watching Dr Who in the seventies with those early synth driven soundtracks that sounded so futuristic at the time..and this does have the feel of a Delia Derbyshire composition, bordering on musique concrete. 'Das Weisse Rauschen' is another track seemingly built around the ritualistic...the deep synth chords and musical chiming feel like they are ushering in devotees of the mystical but after about the 2 minute mark the titular white noise comes in, reverberating around your skull and is genuinely disorientating. This devilish hum is joined by the original synth chords and chiming and the two aspects play off each other before the track disintegrates in another burst of white noise. 'Spandau' is in direct contrast...the mechanical, electronic noise replaced by the organic sounds of people chatting and then the music takes over and things take a more uplifting turn. It borders on bossanova lounge music with some groovy saxophone (courtesy of Andreas Lessenich). The track is full of jazzy, funky joy and totally unexpected. 'Wahn' (which according to Google translate means 'Delusion') sees the duo follow a more experimental electronica path...lots of buzzing drones and stabs of synth with some effects all combining to form a track that is discordant but effective. 'Schwurbel' is another beauty of a track...meditative and gorgeous. It has a rounded feel, with no harsh edges. The guitar work is sublime; understated but deeply evocative and sits well in the chiming electronica and bursts of hazy synth. 'Schoenheit' is the soundtrack to a dystopian sci-fi epic. It conjures visions of decaying cities and malfunctioning machinery....a soundscape of a nightmare future...one of the standout tracks on this great album. 'Wurmloch' is the longest track and sees SONS revisiting the same space as the opener 'Bundesgartenschau'. Spacey effects wrestle with ringing percussion and lush washes of synth before everything opens out into a neo-krautrock opus. It's probably the most 'straightforward' on this experimental SONS outing......very cosmically psychedelic. 'Duftnote' closes the album in a most exquisite fashion...a soft, lilting melody backdropped by gentle drones make for the most ambient track on the album and rounds things off with class and charm.

Sounds Of New Soma have made some wonderful records in the past and have proved to be one of the foremost purveyors of neo-krautrock electronica around, but 'La Grande Bellezza' sees them push the envelope further and further. The level of experimentalism brings with it a challenging aspect and an 'edge' that only adds to the deeply satisfying listening experience. The continuing shifting nature of the tracks makes the initial listen one of expectation and discovery and by the end the overall emotion is one deep contentment. Don't get me wrong, there are some, brief, passages which call for an 'investment' from the listener but that's what makes this a triumph. 'La Grande Bellezza' is available as a 2xLP on orange marbled high quality vinyl (gatefold cover, 12-page booklet and download code) and can be purchased via the Tonzonen Webstore.