Thorofon – Angor (Album – Ant-Zen)
Genre/Influences: Industrial, Minimal-Electro.
Format: Digital, Vinyl.
Background/Info: “Angor” was released at the end of 2023 and is ‘the second part of the sinister world of Gladio Angor – a sonic descent into the abyss, that is simultaneously captivating and disconcerting.’ This new work features ten new songs by Dan Courtman.
Content: The approach and global sound influences are quite comparable to the “Gladio”-album. This is a sonic fusion between Minimal-Electronics close to 80s influences and a harder Industrial sound appealing for Dive-fans. You’ll notice songs featuring vocals and/or spoken samplings.
+ + + : Thorofon remains faithful to its 80s sound mixing different- but related styles together. I still like the minimalism emerging at “Fools Cage” feat. Te/DIS. This is a true masterpiece with danceable vibes. But I also recommend “Take Reality” for its early Industrial/Experimental spirit and the somewhat harder “Perfection” reminding me of Dive’s Electro-Industrial style.
– – – : A few parts feature more chaotic structures but you don’t hear me complaining.
Conclusion: “Gladio” and “Angor” both are great pieces of retro- and yet modern Minimal-Electro/Industrial music.
Best songs: “Fools Cage”, “Take Reality”, “Perfection”, “Shrouts Of Cries”.
Rate: 8.
Artist: http://web.archive.org/web/20070313082511/http://www.umbkollektif.com/thorofon/thorofon.html
Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official
About Thorofon
Thorofon is a German industrial/power-electronics project founded by Anton Knilpert in 1995. After a decade and a triptych of albums, the project transformed into The Musick Wreckers at the end of 2005, with Knilpert changing his artist name to Dan Courtman. Core members are Dan Courtman (Anton Knilpert) and Geneviève Pasquier, working regularly with guest musicians. Thorofon reformed in late 2010.
The project releases through Ant-Zen. “Angor,” reviewed here, arrived at the end of 2023 as the second part of the “Gladio Angor” cycle, following the “Gladio” album.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
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.
