Sontaag - Esoteric Antenna

Maybe a sign of our more secular and less magical times, it’s a sad fact that rock operas of this ilk have slowly slipped away from the psychedelic epics they once were. As more retro experimentation creeps back into fashion again though, hoping to change the tide are sci-rock duo Sontaag, with their startling, surreal debt Esoteric Antenna. Created from a fictional conundrum involving ancient outer space civilisations locked in an ongoing battle to keep sonic power flowing from a life-sustaining and destroying generator, The Great Harmodulator, it’s is not for those who lack imagination.

Fully committing to the fantasy, Sontaag are dedicated to their theme as science fiction meets progressive compositions and powerful riffs throughout the thirteen tracks. As expected, harmonic distortion is a central theme (as heard in opener “Empyrean”), but perhaps slightly unexpectedly the duo utilize spoken word to help the visual and sonic landscapes come to life.

A spectacular collision of British eccentricity and dramatic storytelling, it’s difficult to take it entirely seriously, but once the surrealism is embraced Sontaag are as creative as they are unique. At each step, the band steers and delves deeper into futuristic tales as they alternate between the expressively spoken and the sung. The narrative nature means that, like an audio book, Esoteric Antenna isn’t an LP you can dip in and out of - weighty prose means concentration and a structure that cannot be easily skimmed. Whilst its length may mean dedication, it’s as rewarding as any good read.

It may sound serious, beard-stroking fodder, but where the band inject humour in tracks like “Serena Serenarum (Parts 1, 2 and 3)” there are moments of absurdity that are gallantly embraced. If you can extricate the story from the music, which is a near impossibility in truth, underneath it all lays some truly ingenious aural exploration, complete with jangling shreds and synthesised harmonies. There are heavier chapters too - “Chokuto” for one takes on a ferocious pulse in between more reflective moments.

Occupying an unusual space between music and literature, Sontaag have created an entirely immersive experience which will both divide and intrigue. It’s clear that their musical talents as as plentiful as their imaginations, but by their rock opera nature they remain an acquired taste for those who have a hungover love of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells and unashamed sci-fi.