Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows
Composer: Anna-Varney Candtodea
Started: 1989
Status: Active
Profile
German gothic/experimental/darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows is in fact a solo artist by the name of Anna-Varney Cantodea. Although born a man and not undergoing a sex change operation due to "spiritual conflicts", Anna-Varney prefers to be referred to as "she" and her choice of name reflects this. She has previously said in interviews that after 30 years of depression and despair she found the Ensemble of Shadows, presences not from this world, and they awakened her musical senses. She also does not perform live "in front of humans".
Although at first Sopor Aeternus music seems very dark and gloomy, there is a certain amount of humour within the songs. On her most recent album, "Les Fleurs Du Mal", for example, many of the songs are very tongue in cheek and almost child-like.
1-5
Thoughts
Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows music is very interesting and quirky. The strange stories told within the songs are enhanced by the music, which is sometimes atmospheric, sometimes incoperates xylaphones, violins, flutes, cellos and other instruments and sometimes has a rock feel to it. Anna-Varneys voice is also quite unusual and changes between a midtone male/female voice to high, soft female vocals to a more masculine sound. Probably if you dont like her voice, you wont like Sopor Aeternus, but it really is worth listening to a variety of her songs because they all sound quite different from each other. I recommend her!
Click to read/add your opinion! 1-5
Music Samples:
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Samehada and 1-5
Pictures
1-5 and Samehada
Discography
Albums
"...Ich tote mich jedesmal aufs Neue, doch ich bin unsterblich, und ich erstehe wieder auf; in einer Vision des Untergangs..."
"Todeswunsch" - Sous le soleil de Saturne
"The inexperienced Spiral Traveller"
"Voyager" - The Jugglers of Jusa
"Dead Lovers Sarabande" (Face One)
"Dead Lovers Sarabande" (Face Two)
"Songs from the inverted Womb"
"Es reiten die Toten so schnell"
"La Chambre DEcho" - Where the dead Birds sing
The Goat / The Bells have stopped ringing
Like a Corpse standing in Desperation
Les Fleurs Du Mal
EPs
Ehjeh Ascher Ehjeh
Flowers in Formaldehyde
Demo Tape
Es Reiten die Toten so Schnell...
Links
Official Site
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