Anna-Varney Cantodea &#8211; SIDE-LINE

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.

Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows – The Colours (EP – Apocalyptic Vision Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

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

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: Anna-Varney Cantodea and the lovely Ensemble Of Shadows strike back with four new songs which each cover a colour.

Content: This work sounds very Cinematic-like and there’s only one single cut featuring vocals. The listener embarks on a dark and melancholic voyage created by an artistic ensemble playing acoustic instruments like violin, cello, trombone, trumpet, bass guitar and drums. The work is moving from dark, dreamy, passages into pure sadness.

+ + + : No doubt about it Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows would be the perfect project to compose a great Soundtrack. This work sounds a tiny atypical although revealing the familiar sound and influences of the project. “Orange” is a more ‘classical’ cut featuring Anna-Varney Cantodea’s bewitching timbre of voice. Speaking for myself I especially like the violin play at this work which empowers the melancholic sensation.

– – – : Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows with less vocals sounds different and I miss this unique sensation of Cantodea singing.

Conclusion: This work is a cool addendum to the new album “Alone At Sam’s – An Evening With...”

Best songs: “Orange”, “White”, “Purple”.

Rate: 8.

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

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

Sopor Aeternus presents new album ‘The Rules’ in 2 editions

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:40:02 +0000

Out via Apocalyptic Vision on December 21st is the all new Sopor Aeternus album “The Rules”.

The full-length album is part 3 of the current Sopor Aeternus trilogy, which is based on an actual boardgame. Like part 1 (“Alone At Sam’s – An Evening with…”) and part 2 (“The Colours”), “The Rules” was also recorded and produced at TidalWave Studios and is part of a larger total work of art.

“The Rules” will be available in two editions, a double LP one and on CD.

The 2LP comes in a limited 2×12″ screen printed vinyl edition combined with screenprint. The screenprint on side D comes with the special colour ‘Halloween orange’. The vinyls will be 180 gram, super-audiophile high quality discs with black inner sleeve with antistatic lining and a gatefold sleeve. The copies are hand-numbered by Anna-Varney Cantodea. The 2LP version is limited to 500 copies worldwide.

The transparent jewelcase CD edition comes with a 16-page lyric booklet and holds the same tracks as on the limited vinyl edition.

Check out the video that was released just now.

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

Brand new Sopor Aeternus CD single ‘Todesschlaf’ and double 7 inch

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:36:04 +0000

Out via Apocalyptic Vision on April 29th is the new Sopor Aeternus album “Todesschlaf” which comes as a limited CD album. The CD comes in Jewel-Case with 20 pages booklet, and is hand-numbered by Anna-Varney Cantodea to strictly 1000 copies holding just 3 tracks: “Todesschlaf #1”, “Todesschlaf #2” and “Todesschlaf #3”.

Also out is a double 7 inch consisting of a black 7″ vinyl and a 7” flexi disc single (playable at your own risk only). The 36-page accompanying booklet comes in a special size (21×21 cm) and the whole is packaged in a folding box printed on both sides, hand-packed and hand-numbered by Anna-Varney Cantodea. The set is strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide.

Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows – Island Of The Dead (Album – Apocalyptic Vision)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 18:30:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Neo-classic, gothic, cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: Anna-Varney Cantodea set up Sopor Aeternus in 1989. The project rapidly became a phenomenon and the growing recognition never stopped. Thirty one years later Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows unleash their newest work featuring eleven songs. Anna-Varney Cantodea remains the heart & soul of the project while the Ensemble Of Shadows features seven musicians (playing drums, violin, cello, trumpet, bass, banjo and trombone). This new work comes one year after the surprising death-rock release “Death And Flamingos”.

Content: Sopor Aeternus moves back to its familiar neo-classic/gothic driven style, which remains characterized by the play of authentic instruments. The sound of the cello, violin or trombone for example reinforce the sad mood covering the songs. Anna-Varney Cantodea accentuates this sadness by adding delicate sound treatments and then bombastic arrangements. Some typical ingredients like the sound of a carrion are resonating in the background while the trumpet play injects this very particular solemn touch. The work is empowered by guitar sounds while carried by dark, heavenly melodies. On top of it all the charisma and emotive production of Anna-Varney’s vocals are achieving this work with an extra sensitive touch.

+ + + : I was touched by the title of this album, which also is the title of one of my favorite paintings by symbolist painter Arnold Böcklin. I don’t think this album refers to this painting although I imagine Anna-Varney Cantodea sitting in the boat featured on Böcklin’s canvas, which is slowly sailing towards a mysterious place… a place of eternal sleep! Well, this album makes me think of a painting or a book with its different chapters. The music reflects this unique, artistic sadness this musician has used to familiarize us. It also reflects the lyrical theme(s) about an impossible- or should I say inaccessible love. It’s not just sadness as the work deals with existential themes and Sopor Aeternus has been always a meticulous artisan to express it by music. And what I’ve always experienced in the work of Anna-Varney Cantodea is not only its authenticity, but also sincerity! No, Sopor Aeternus is not simply gothic music, it’s art! Some of the melody lines remind me of soundtracks written by another master, Ennio Morricone, while the global mood has something of classical works like the “Stabat Mater” from Pergolesi or the one from Vivaldi. The work resulted from a true passion for music and I guess perfectionism for any little detail. Sadness has been transformed into artistic beauty while darkness became grace! It’s hard to say which is my favorite Sopor Aeternus album, but right now I should say without hesitation “Island Of The Dead”… an obscure title for a sonic experience that still gets me in its grip.

– – – : I can’t really imagine any minus points about this work, but let’s say that some of the last songs aren’t my favorite ones while the opening cuts are just brilliant!

Conclusion: There albums we can simply be grateful to they exist and if they exist it’s thanks to the genius of their composer. I don’t believe in perfectionism, but if it has to be invented, Sopor Aeternus would be its sculptor.

Best songs: “Minotaur”, “Black Magic Spell”, “Poison”, “Saturn Rising”, “Burial Ground”, “Cold”.

Rate: (9½).

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

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

Sopor Aeternus to release limited 1-track 7 inch ‘The Boy must die’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:14:40 +0000

Out in August is a strictly limited 7″ vinyl edition from the album “Death & Flamingos”. The hand-numbered release by Anna-Varney Cantodea holds just one track, “The Boy must die”.

The track is taken from the 2019 album “Death and Flamingos”.

The 7 inch comes strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide. You can check the song below.

Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows goes deathrock on new album – out tomorrow (check out this preview)

Eldrina Mich — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 19:32:03 +0000

Out today is the newest album by Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows: “Death & Flamingos”. Recorded in August, 2018 in Karlsdorf, Germany at the Tidalwave Studio it brings the band in deathrock waters so to speak.

It is the 14th album by Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows and you can order it right here on vinyl and right here as a CD plus book. It is the first deathrock album from the project actually.

Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows was founded in 1989, and began as a Neue Deutsche Todeskunst musical project. Three demo tapeswere recorded between 1989 and 1992 after which the band, now reduced to just Anna-Varney Cantodea, signed with Apocalyptic Vision and released a first album, “…Ich töte mich…”. The album, like the demo tapes before it, offered darkwave music with a neo-classical bent. Later on she moved into a more dark folk, neo-medieval direction.

Here’s a preview of the album:

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

Exponentia – Abend (CD Album – Neris Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 21:15:28 +0000

Genre/Influences: Gothic, neo-classic.

Background/Info: Ludovic Dhenry is French artist who set up Exponentia in 2012. “Abend” is the 4^th full length released on his own label Neris Records.

Content: The previous work “Ghost” (2014) revealed an interesting progression in sound and global production while holding on to the gothic and neo-classic influences of the early beginning work. “Abend” sounds quite similar in influences and writing. Dhenry takes care of every single element of the composition.

The work reminds me once more of Sopor Aeternus, but in a less elaborated and artistic format. But the neo-classic and desperate sounding moods and the orchestral arrangements are quite comparable. Exponentia composes on his own there where Anna-Varney Cantodea got the help of an entire ensemble (cf. ‘The Ensemble Of Shadows’).

“Abend” invites the listener to join in for an endless night made of long-duration, moody cuts. The sound formula is quite simple, but globally speaking pretty efficient. The songs are carried by melodic passages and a kind of cinematographic atmosphere filled with wafting darkness. It sounds pretty sad and somewhat theatrical, which is an element accentuated by the German vocals and way of singing.

+ + + : Exponentia is mainly characterized by a dark and evasive sound filled with beautiful sadness. Magic operates between the different sound layers and the German vocals. The melodic element and neo-classic inspiration both are quite noticeable elements.

– – – : The shadow of Sopor Aeternus is hanging over this work, but it all sounds more simple and a bit under-produced –although it’s an aspect that has been seriously improved throughout the years. If Exponentia would work with some talented guest musicians inject an artistic and authentic touch and maybe a producer to find the right mix between it all, this band would really become a reference in the genre.

Conclusion: Exponentia once again reveals great artistic ideas and I really like the DIY attitude of this artist, but sometimes you maybe have to reconsider some points of view like working with other musicians to get more authenticity and real emotion into your work.

Best songs: “Neblig Und Kalt”, “Abend”, “Fliehen”.

Rate: (7).

Band: http ://exponentia .music .free .fr / www .facebook .com /Exponentia

Label: www .facebook .com /NerisRecords

Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows’ “Dead Lovers’ Sarabande” (Face One + Face Two) re-released as a VERY limited 2x 2LP vinyl set – get your copy now

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 10 May 2016 16:30:29 +0000

Out in the next few days are the re-releases on vinyl of the 1999 releases “Dead Lovers’ Sarabande” (Face One) and “Dead Lovers’ Sarabande” (Face Two) by Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows. They were respectively the 4th and 5th album by the darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows and formed the first concept albums by the band. The albums detail the mourning of a lover who has recently passed.

This new edition is a stripped-down one version, holding no gatefold-covers, posters or signatures. They come with a simple cover, and on classic black vinyl in 180gram audiophile quality with printed inner sleeves. While not adding anything new, Anna-Varney Cantodea, however, had the original negatives re-scanned in high resolution and re-created the artwork. Also the audio has been re-mastered especially for these vinyl re-releases.

Note that the reissues come strictly limited to 500 copies world-wide. You can order the first part right here, the second part right here. Highly recommended!

Sopor Aeternus is reportedly working on an all new album, we’ll keep you posted.

Phantom Vision – Ghosts (CD Album – COP International)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:41:48 +0000

Genre/Influences: Gothic, post-punk.

Content: Phantom Vision has resurrected after a 10 year hibernation. The Portuguese gothic formation got some recognition right after the millennium by releasing their debut-album at the now gone gothic label Nightbreed Recordings. The next 3 albums got released by COP International, but the last 10 years nothing new happened in the studio.

“Ghosts” is maybe not a new start, but it’s clear that after all these years they’ll again have to conquer the audience. The work is not exactly what I would call a typical gothic release but rather a mixture of gothic and rock elements with some extra electronic arrangements on top.

There’s a well-crafted balance between all the elements, but the main strength of this work is the vocals by singer Pedro Morcego. He can sing in different ways, which inject some diversity into the work. His deep and somewhat sensual timbre of voice at “Behind The Scenes” reminds me of Leonard Cohen while the more nasal and theatrical style at “Human” is more like Gary Numan meeting Anna-Varney Cantodea. Last, but not least some of the last songs, which are like into a post-punk spirit might remind me of Billy Idol. Morcego is a real talented singer and he clearly injects a real true spirit into this album.

Phantom Vision is not reinventing gothic music, but their new work clearly reveals a will to do it a different way. It’s not exactly the dark and depressive gothic sound, but a more open-minded vision, which is still touching other grounds. The electronic passages are absolutely great and essential, like illustrated at “Fairy Tales And Broken Dreams”, but still other songs like “Behind The Scenes” and the brilliant “Naked Machine” reveal great sequences.

I already mentioned the some more post-punkish approach, which sounds a bit into rock as well. It makes me think of a contemporary version of Billy Idol and I even dare to say that this is probably the best part of this release. “No Limits”, “Right City, Wrong Time” and “Millionaire” are pretty cool songs in the genre. Those songs still feature an electronic touch, but it’s less explicit now.

“Ghosts” features 15 new songs, which is a nice gift for the fans who had to wait for years since the “Instinct”-album (2005).

Conclusion: The new Phantom Vision work sounds more diverse in sound and even into some modernism. I’m just missing a potential hit at this album to speak about a fully successful comeback.

Best songs: “Naked Machine”, “Behind The Scenes”, “Right City, Wrong Time”, “Millionaire”.

Rate: (Elise Din:7)Elise Din.

Band: www.facebook.com/pv2000.band

Label: www.copint.com / www.facebook.com/copint