Suns of Arqa - Anthem

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• published: 09 Jun 2013
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Artist: Suns of Arqa Title: Stranger Music Label: Arka Sound Records Genre: Ambient, Dub, Electronic Date: Apr-2011 Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/arq/arq1cd137.html Web: http://sunsofarqa.co.uk/ Arka Sounds: OK, so the thought of the world trance music wonders Suns of Arqa doing a cover versions album of Leonard Cohen songs didn't at first leap off the page or even into my CD player at first. However, after the first initial shock of this venture the album works exceedingly well and creates a weird but fascinating hybrid that traverses several barriers. It would be pointless to compare the tracks to the original songs as they sound very different, so I would be constantly repeating myself saying how different they are. "Anthem" is a dancing reggae jaunt that has the world feel that the Suns are famous for. By the time the second track kicks in we are in very different territory -- "Every Pebble" sounds like The Residents do a very psychedelic dub number via a moribund Kali. It's really quite scary and very odd, but it does groove. Lush keyboards and tablas kick in on "The Window" to provide a drifting rhythm that gives it a Goa trance feel full of early morning ambience. Big bass and lilting vocals hold "Story of Isaac" together with its stop-start beat and unearthly echo. "The Sisters of Mercy" has a wonderful bhangra beat that punches the track along in a heavy dub fashion fully of quirky electronics and understated vocals; a real charm.