Undeniably pleasant, frustratingly short-lived
Just a single E-bow drone opens up the first track on Wunden Gibt Es Immer Wieder. As it begins to rise in volume, the sound of delay-soaked keys and swarms of strings gently colour in the rest of the audio space, adopting a two-chord melody to carry the piece forward. “Taschensymphonie” is a warming three minutes, guiding the tentative listener into its graceful soundscape, allowing dynamics to drop and rise with a very natural, reassuring predictability.
And with this track, the tone of Sankt Otten’s latest release is set. It doesn’t challenge the listener; fully ingestible on first listen, with the melodies remaining fairly safe and conservative throughout. However, there’s a certain charm about this “welcoming” aspect. It’s the sound of home – unadventurous and cautious, yet it invites the listener into a state of calm, and never ceases to be sweet on the ears.
Instruments are intelligently chosen, allowing individual textures to melt together and interact effortlessly. The combination of acoustic and electronic percussion works a treat, forming rigid rhythms for the listener to cling onto whilst the instrumental, free-flowing ambience creates an array of delicate harmonies over the top. The title track is a perfect example of this; consisting of stream of dancing violin trills, tethered to a constant, wooden beat.
However, I can imagine that some people will be crying out for this album to throw a few surprises, and shake up the serenity for just a split second. Song climaxes and chord changes are just too easily foreseen, and although there is the aforementioned appeal of something so hesitant and play-it-safe, it isn’t long before this starts to wear off.
Initially, Wunden Gibt Es Immer Wieder is powerful emotional engrossment, consistently conveying an intense, melancholic honesty throughout its playing time. The trouble comes when you inevitably begin to crave something outside of your comfort zone; after which there is little Sankt Otten can do for you.
| Reviewer:Jack Chuter Added: January 19th 2008 |
|
