Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows – Alone At Sam’s – An Evening With… (Album

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Genre/Influences: Neo-Classic, Cinematic, Gothic.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: The new album by Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows has been released the same day as the EP “The Colours”. This opus has been released in different formats and features eighteen songs.

Content: The introduction song directly evokes the typical, melancholic, atmosphere created by Anna-Varney Cantodea. Together with the 7 musicians of The Ensemble Of Shadows the work excels in Neo-Classic arrangements, Gothic moods and emotional, theatrical, vocals. The work reveals different instrumental tracks accentuating the growing Cinematic approach of the German project.

+ + + : Sopor Aeternus remains ‘the’ most artistic project from the underground scene I know. It’s a ‘total’ concept wherein music, lyrics and artwork have been accomplished to the most minute detail. The music is mixing different influences together but remains touched by this unique and graceful sound DNA Anna-Varney Cantodea has used to familiarize us. It totally matches with the emotional singing; you can feel sadness and pain while music and ‘creation’ might remain the best cure to move on… Everything sounds dark but still subtle which is an aspect that also comes back in the lyrics. The title song reflects this delicacy and leaves the listener/reader with his own imagination. The album features multiple outstanding cuts featuring orchestral sound arrangements but still this Sopor Aeternus ‘trademark’ created by the power and emotion of real instruments like violin, cello, trombone, trumpet ao. The album also has a strong visual appeal because of its Cinematic approach.

– – – : From a very personal point of view I don’t consider this album as the ‘best’ one ever composed by the artist. It sounds maybe too explicit in the Cinematic approach although there’s nothing wrong with that… just a personal impression.

Conclusion: The numerous fans of Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows will discover a new masterpiece in addition to the impressive discography of their favorite band; dark, melancholic, graceful and artistic.

Best songs: “Come And Play With Us”, “Nobody Home”, “Counter Spell”, “Alone At Sam’s”, “The Colours”, “The House Of Poe”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.soporaeternus.de / www.facebook.com/sopor.aeternus.offiziell

Label: www.trisol.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Trisol-Music-Group/104166526285471

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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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