LIVE AT MOODS

The swiss music ensemble SONAR recently have produced the studio album 'Vortex' in collaboration with guitarist and composer David Torn. This corresponding live performance was recorded at the Moods Jazz Club, Zürich, in May 2018. They have taken over half of the songs here, the others are earlier band compositions, respectively For Lost Sailors eventually turns out to be a David Torn solo piece. On the stage the fivesome generates an atmospheric vibe beyond comparison. Which basically comes from an intriguing virtuoso triple guitar work, partially King Crimson inspired. This supported by the prolific rhythm branch comprised of Christian Kuntner (bass) as well as drummer Manuel Pasquinelli.

The band name by the way results from the conjunction of the terms SONic and ARchitecture. Well chosen! Polyrhythm is the name of the game. As one might expect the interplay of both regular guitarists Stephan Thelen and Bernhard Wagner is well-functioning, furthermore though Torn fits in like a longtime member with ease. The sound quality leaves nothing to be desired. A must hear, any other try regarding a proper description will fail, I'm quite sure. This was completely filmed too, so I would not be surprised if there will be a DVD available sooner or later, possibly depends on a growing attention. Well deserved in any case. Fantastic experience, highly recommended!

Sonar were formed in 2010 and comprise Stephan Thelen (tritone guitar), Bernhard Wagner (tritone guitar), Christian Kuntner (tritone bass) and Manuel Pasquinelli (drums). Since then they have created quite a reputation for themselves with their jagged eclectic RIO jazz approach to progressive rock, and for their fourth full-length studio album, 'Vortex', they invited producer (and guitarist, film-composer) and David Torn to work with them. During the recording, the chemistry between Sonar and David Torn worked so well that Torn was invited to play on every track. So, when the band played a concert at Moods Jazz Club in Z'rich, Switzerland, on May 24th last year, they took the opportunity to invite David to join them and this is the result.

There are three pieces from Vortex ('Waves and Particles', 'Red Shift' and 'Lookface!'), a piece from 'Static Motion', 'Twofold Covering', and an improvised David Torn solo piece called 'For Lost Sailors' together with 'Troms'', a piece that Sonar played without David Torn. This last is one of the very first songs they rehearsed together and opens their debut album 'A Flaw of Nature'. This is music which is on the edge, guitarists combining together to create something ethereal, threatening, complex, yet also with space between the layers. This is King Crimson being taken to a different musical world, where musicians are allowed by the audience to relax into their art, only making a sound when a track has ended. Complex, this is music which hurts when played loudly, as the brain attempts to digest what is happening in front of its ears and generally fails.

There is nothing relaxing or calm about this music, it is designed to cause an emotional flight or fight response, and it is incredibly hard to listen to in many ways. That the listener needs to make the effort as there is a great deal to be gained from it is never in doubt. This is music pushing boundaries, truly progressing.

SONAR have become one of my absolute favourite bands. It took David Torn's involvement for me to feel this way and that all started in 2018 with their album "Vortex", and this record "Live At Moods" is the live document of that album recorded in May of 2018 at Moods Jazz Club in Zurich. Before Torn came on board I had "Static Motion" and "Black Light" but not the debut. Enjoyed those two but for me best way to describe the difference is that Torn fills space. Going back the other day and listening to "Static Motion" it was like something was missing(Torn) and yes it's that atmosphere he creates with his guitar expressions and live looping. His absence was so noticeable on that spin the other night. But I also know several fans who prefer the pre-Torn stuff but for me he helped take this band to another level.

By the way I like Stephan Thelen's solo stuff even a little but more with a lot of the same musicians but I like the different guitarists he brings in, so much talent including Torn's involvement. This live document is over 56 minutes spanning six tracks. Of course "Vortex" is featured here with three of the songs being from that record. They also open with "Twofold Covering" from "Static Motion" and a great example of how much better this song sounds with Torn on board.

I love every song here but man the opener is amazing. A quiet start and when the drums arrive around 1 1/2 minutes I'm thinking this is SONAR! So good. Love when the guitar escapes from the herd sort of speak around 7 1/2 minutes. I like the drums late at 10 1/2 minutes. "Waves & Particles" from "Vortex" is next then another from that album called "Red Shift" yeah a very good electronic band and this song is a killer. The crunchy bass is outstanding and it's really a song where they push the envelope. How good is this before 5 minutes as it rises up.

"Tromso" is from the debut and maybe the best bass track but I like that energy late. "For Lost Sailors" is a Torn piece not on any of SONAR's studio records. Check out those guitar expressions after 4 minutes. Oh my! It then descends into atmosphere only before picked guitar joins in to the end. "Lookface!" from "Vortex" is the perfect closer, the shortest piece at over 5 minutes but the most powerful as well. Aggressive music here from the guitars especially and after a calm mid-way through it kicks in hard at 4 minutes.

Yeah I'm a fanboy for sure but you have to hear this stuff. Tritone guitars and bass plus Torn's inventive soundscapes make this a band that has rocketed to near the top of my all time favourites. Headphone music all the way.