Soniq Theater – Fortune Tunes
In search of new music from new artists, I found Soniq Theater from Stuttgart, Germany. The band is a solo-project of ex-Rachel’s Birthday’s keyboard-player Alfred Mueller. All music is composed and performed by Mueller.
Alfred’s latest album is Fortune Tunes, released on January 1, 2020. Mueller is a skilled keyboard player who has been creating progressive rock, electronica, ambient, fusion and classical music, for over 20 years. Mueller has released music from 2000 to 2020, and his discography is quiet prolific, including 20 albums.
Fortune Tunes is full of multi-genre music and every one of the 13 tracks has its own highlights. My favorite tracks were: The opener “Bringer of Good Luck”, with its steady beat and fantastic beginning. “Tarot Cards”, has a cool main beat and synthesized rhythm, with all sorts of cool atmospherics going on all around the main beat. “Fortune Teller”, has those wonderful drum – like moments in the keyboards I remember from Foxtrot and Nursery Cryme. “Andromadeus” is very Giorgio Moroder. “The Pendulum”, could have fit well on From Genesis to Revelation, as a short track. “The Prophecy”, opens like an Indiana Jones soundtrack, before taking on a Bond – like theme. Later the keyboards get even more eerie and complicated, like a raging storm.
“Crystal Ball” is indeed magical in every way. “Second Sight”, adds flute like keys at the outset to hint at Jethro Tull, but the rest of the song is full of bold orchestrated string – like keys.
“Inner Visions”, is probably full of the album’s best moments. Just try to sit still through this joy ride. Your feet will be taping to the endless and differing beats.
“Ritual” is full of wonderful pounding drum beats.
“Nostradamus”, is a grand epic of a closer filled with image-driving keyboards and effects.
Much of this music reminds me of the stellar work of greats like Tony Banks and Keith Emerson, from progressive rock. But I also think it is closer to the work of fellow Germans, Kraftwerk. The reminders were especially poignant with the passing of Florian Schneider, recently. I’ll never forget hearing “Trans Europa Express”, for the first time. It absolutely blew me off my feet, after being a solid fan of Larry Fast. Trying to appreciate something as intricate and similar to what Fast laid down, but also having a cool Kraftwerk beat, was challenging.
Mueller’s work on Fortune Tunes, is also sophisticated and at the same time charming. The music never gets tiring, especially with all of the atmospherics going on around the main music.
If you are in search of something completely different from what you normally listen to daily, this is an excellent change of pace and direction. Put on your headphones and let Mueller’s keyboards take you away from all the damage the virus is doing around the world. Fortune Tunes, is just that, a fortune in alternative sounds created to provide you with something different to change your paradigm. Let the music take you away.
Track List
- Bringer of Good Luck – 4:33
- Tarot Cards – 5:57
- Fortune Teller – 5:47
- Andromadeus – 4:47
- The Pendulum – 1:03
- The Prophecy – 7:11
- Crystal Ball – 0:50
- Fortunate Coincidences – 4:48
- Second Sight – 3:24
- Inner Visions – (Visionary Mix) – 7:11
- Ouija Board – 0:46
- Ritual – 4:32
- Nostradamus – 4:57
http://www.soniqtheater.de/index.php
https://soniqtheater.bandcamp.com/album/fortune-tunes
https://www.youtube.com/user/mysticmusic62?feature=mhee