Website: www.schoengeist-music.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/schoengeistmusic


SCHÖNGEIST (aka “Beautiful Spirit” or “Masculine Estate”), a German Rock Formation that was formed in 2006 in Munich. They are stylistically connected to the dark culture and about to convince you that there is no time (Keine Zeit), at least that’s how they’re calling their new album.

They believe that music is a great medium to connect people worldwide for a more peaceful integration. Adapting oriental influences at least with our oxidant modern rockmusic style was the aim as they started. Instantly this seems to be contrary but it was an overdue and long ago logical consistency of his generation and works pretty fine. Set to sound harder than previous album of 2009, ‘Liebeskrieger’, its views more pointed, maybe due to the escalating tensions of world’s events.

The beginning of the album is definitely tense, though it starts relaxing as it plays on. The song that made it their single ‘Sonne der Nacht’ (‘Sun of the Night’) is definitely one of the strongest songs here; it has more of the Industrial leanings which most of the other songs lack - they share more with Neue Deutsche Härte, regardless, this is very catchy song with strong melody and verve. The album contains a remix of this song, which is a more danceable version of it; the added atmosphere works well and creates a good contrast to the original. ‘Nie mehr allein’ is the opposite, quieter, more acoustic driven song, has something of the Folk pop, a tinge of sadness.

Though all songs are in German, one does feel there’s a great narrative going on here. After another remix of their earlier song (Sugar, Sugar), the album ends with a cabaret like number ‘Wenn ich es nur wüsste’, which sounds if you listened to an old vinyl on a scratched, dusty old gramophone; it has a sound of ca ‘30’s, comes very unexpected and is a really great touch. ‘Der Gral’ feels mesmerising, atmospheric, slow and beautiful.

‘Halbmondfinsternis’ starts with oriental sounds, becomes harder, consistently emphasising on ‘Freiheit’ - ‘Freedom’. ‘Keine Zeit’ is a strong, interesting album, worth a listen definitely.