album reviews
album review

This review is published in March 2002 and I have already discovered one of the best CDs of the year. Only one day after having read that Anna Varney Cantodea (Sopor Aeternus) had collaborated in a conceptual side project, I have bought this nice digipack. Driving from my office to my home I have been listening to this CD and I can assure you that I had gooseflesh (I don´t fall into tears since my football team lost Spanish premiere league).
I don´t know if you followed our founder's advice about "Dead lovers´ sarabande (face two)" but if you did it, you discovered a music extremely symphonic and beautiful, solemn and spiritual, depressive in its texts and bright in its concept, and without electric instruments. After "Dead...", "Songs from the inverted wound" was released, a CD more intimate (if it´s possible) and personal. Well, Nenia C´alladhan is, in my opinion, much better than any other Sopor Aeternus CD, and I could only compare it to "Dead face two" although Nenia C´alladhan is brighter. Before going on with the review, I would like to tell you that Sopor Aeternus, as many other gothic artists, has two stages: the first one until "Todeswunsch - Sous le Soleil de Saturne", very electric and with a gothic after-punk vein; a sort of bridge between styles - The inexperienced spiral traveller -, and a second stage which begins with "Dead lovers´ sarabande (face one)". This stage is fully symphonic and acoustic.
And what could I tell you about this CD?. It is wonderful. The first song "An die Sterne" (5:41) is simply exquisite. A precious vocal duet with the voice of Anna more melodic than ever and a wondrous instrumentation. The vocal harmonies are touching and sweet. "Die Sümme im Sturm" (8:54) has a delicate instrumentation and Anna´s voice reminds me to Marc Almond, plenty of sweetness and always wrapped by crystalline orchestral arrangements. "Schwarzer Spiegel" (3:45) is more up tempo and leads us to a medieval fair with happy percussion and string arrangements. "Schattengesang" (8'13) is a track very moving with nice vocal harmonies and recreates the medieval atmosphere of the concept. "Der See des Vergessens" (10:02) y "Sternblumennacht" (11:06) have too many minutes and I have to little adjectives to describe so many beauty, but I´ll highlight the middle part of "Der See...", brilliant and majestic, and the tempo of "Sterblumennacht", a sort of epic ballad with acoustic instruments. "Schwarzer Spiegel II" (3:45) is the same as the first part but with a lower tempo and the voice of Constance instead of Anna´s. Only vocals and a crystalline acoustic guitar. The last song - "Lied der Todesfee" (3':05) begins with a harpsichord and it is a nice final duet. The bonus track is the original version of "Sternblumennacht" (11:00) sung by Constance only accompanied by acoustic guitars. Anna sings at the end of the song.
If you already know Sopor Aeternus you must buy this CD If you don´t know its music, try to imagine Lacrimosa´s music without electric instruments and with a varied instrumentation. Although it´s hard to define Sopor Aeternus music, it´s an experience you have to live. Go to your local record store, listen to the first track, and if you don´t like it. Not only you don´t like progressive rock but you don´t like music at all. Touching masterpiece.