SIGNS IN THE SKY

SLEEPING PANDORA is a project established by Berlin based guitarist Mathias Rosmann. Since some years now he's exclusively operating on solo paths. Very productive, as 'Signs In The Sky' represents the fifth studio album so far. A significant trademark is the somewhat hypnotic chillout mood in general, a perfect scope for his typical echo respectively reverb guitar performance he's known for. This, with good reason, includes several Kosmische Musik reminiscences, akin to the likes of Günter Schickert, Manuel Göttsching, or Achim Reichel if you will. On a side note, while trying to express melancholy, also foresight maybe, kitschy or not, the album cover picture may divide the listeners. Anyhow, Rosman succeeds in providing a pleasant experience in general, that counts. Of course you don't have to expect compositions with many twists and turns embedded.

A more repetitive style often enough is running into danger, I mean to slip into boring purposelessness somehow. For the sake of variety he's diving into several music styles and technics on this occasion, be it a TripHop, House or Dub oriented groove, managed by skilfully programmed bass and drums. Or a more looping space and ambient flow in many variants. And he's also incorporating synths and piano here and there. The extraordinaire cosmic guitar playing dominates it all, that's for sure. Exemplarily I would like to mention Floating High which excellently combines multiple guitar styles, for example soaring space and singer/songwriter (semi-)acoustic. In the first instance this is dedicated to some relaxed and concentrated moments, when sitting alone, laid back on a sofa or in a comfortable chair, with a glass of wine at hand maybe. Though in the same way suitable as a background facility, when having a meeting with friends in a bar, while debating about essential themes concerning mankind's future or so.