LIVE AT MOODS

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.