Saroos :: Turtle Roll (Alien Transistor)

To put the German band Saroos on the listening map, one only has to mention a couple of names: the Notwist and Morr Music.

Crystal clear colors of night

To put the German band Saroos on the listening map, one only has to mention a couple of names: the Notwist and Morr Music. For those who have already guessed what sounds we are talking about, but in short even for those who do not know who they are, listening to the new single is super recommended. The Saroos are Max (keyboardist), who is part of the live line-up with which the Acher brothers’ the Notwist goes on tour to play; Florian and Christoph come from Lali Puna, which they consider to be one of several projects they are involved in (Sorrentino, can you read us?).

After years of experimenting, playing live, creating remixes and basically being the backbone of a series of ‘pop’ vibes, they have this time decided to open up to collaborations. Anticipated by the 2021 singles “Tin & Glass,” and “Frequency Change,” featuring Leila Gharib aka Sequoyah Tiger, the new ‘mutation’ conveys a kind of ‘gentle hypnosis,’ with Eva Geist’s vocals running through a lyric that rests nicely on the syncopated rhythm of the handclap. The Berlin trio’s sixth album is called Turtle Roll, and will be released on June 16, 2023 by Alien Transistor.

Speaking of foursomes, there’s four instrumental tracks scattered throughout the new LP—ranging from a painting in crystal clear colors of night (“Organ of Recall”) to the highly dramatic sonic tapestry of “Thicket” (actually feat. vocals as well). Before the perfect goodbye of slow-moving album closer “Here Before,” “Passed Out” sounds like Odd Nosdam finding his feet after blacking out on a German carnival.

Berlin-Munich, Germany based electronic / downtempo / post-rock music trio. It is composed of Florian Zimmer (Driftmachine), Christoph Brandner (Lali Puna), and Max Punktezahl (the Notwist).

Turtle Roll is available on Alien Transistor June 16, 2023. [Bandcamp]