Sonoi Seduces And Charms On Their Debut

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on May 11, 2010 6:20PM

For Chicago music fans, it shouldn’t be too surprising that Sonoi—a local trio featuring members of Manishevitz—are capable of creating thoroughly engaging wholes out of parts from pop’s familiar past. Rather than function as a straight throwback act to English pop as Manishevitz did, Sonoi’s self-titled debut album marries atypical musical sensibilities—namely, classic pop songcraft and the moody, experimental ambience. Album opener “Red Ants” sets the dichotomy up immediately by recalling both Jimi Hendrix’s deep cut “May This Be Love” and Yo La Tengo’s somnambulant ballads. Simple, echo-immersed guitar lines are gently paired with similarly atmospheric textures from keyboards, horns and flutes to create a sense that Sonoi are setting up an album of sonic adventurousness.

The middle section of Sonoi introduces more straightforward classic-rock homages, an approach that causes the album to sag. Stones disciples will probably whistle “Gimme Shelter” during the open-chord blues riff of “Sherry Arms,” and the mid-tempo bop of “Cat and the Barbie” should seem awfully familiar to David Bowie fans. Given the musical possibilities that are introduced at the start of Sonoi, these developments feel like a regression. The band regains their footing and finds an ideal balance between engaging songcraft and their more venturesome impulses by the album’s end. Sonoi goes on a roll in its horn-drenched jazz and post-rock influenced back half with songs like “Angeline” and the quiet, floating “Friends in Dry Places,” The result is a record that, after a slight bump in the road, perfectly sets the mood for hushed conversations during late-night get-togethers.

Sonoi plays a record release show on May 14 at The Empty Bottle, 1055 N Western, 10 p.m., $8, 21+