Sven Torstenson - Drugs

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: BEWITH136LP 
Barcode: 4251804140188 
Release Date: 03 Nov 2023
Genre: Library/Breaks 

Part of Sonoton Library Reissue Campaign, 2023 first Pme reissue, 140g vinyl.

Sven Torstenson's notorious Drugs is a loopdigga's fever dream, burs[ng with breaks for days and featuring possibly the most iconic cover of all library music's cult classics. First released in 1980, it's now a hyper-rare and seriously sought-ayer electronic album full of experimental soundscapes and samples just wai[ng to be flipped. It's both terrifying and terrifyingly good. So much so, it's been brilliantly sampled by Kendrick Lamar and Chance The Rapper.

The sleeve describes Drugs as containing "the newest dimensions of electronic sounds. Drama[c underscores for all problems of today's life and society, at the border between reality and delusion." That's pre`y spot-on. The fast moving "Euphoria" is an incredible, unignorable opener. It's loaded with disorienta[ng effects and really needs to be heard to be believed. It's followed by the gorgeous "Soy Hallucina[ons", containing quiet, medita[ve and beau[ful sounds - as the [tle suggests. One listen and you'll want to live in the warm embrace of this beatless, harmonic gem. Sinister squelchy synth stabs don't distract from the sheer beauty of the track's main (gentle) thrust. They only serve to elevate its trippy magic.

Next up, "Sky Move"'s agitated and repe[[ve rhythm makes it an intense listen but with a broad melody that will appeal to many. "Destroyed Dreams" u[lises a muffled church organ and it sounds heavenly to begin with but it gradually invites increasingly distorted elements. Yes, you've had trips like this, we're pre`y certain. Mental!
Talking of bad trips, never have they sounded so good as "Horror Trip"; this fractured drama-synth just needs some some dusty beats to hold it up - get involved.

"Floa[ng Illusions" almost sounds like a beatless Spiritualized bomb from the earlymid 90s; melodic, synthy, church organ-drenched. The mournful, drama[c "Lost Chance" pulses along on a bed of acidy synths whilst "The Morning Ayer" is the sonic equivalent of the extreme fear and doom experienced in the ayermath of the previous night's carnage. Whilst somewhat uncomfortable listening, again, it's pre`y compelling thanks to the myriad effects being expertly u[lised. Fascina[ng. The sprawling, fragmented "Random Thoughts" is described as containing "confused melody phrases" - yeah, pre`y much sums this one up.

The B-Side is ushered in by "Heroin" and it's as sketchy as you might think, all mysterious minor chords with a domina[ng - but not overbearing - bass refrain. Next up, the dream-like synthy fanfare of "Night Trip" climaxes ayer a few minutes of drama[c, ecclesias[cal sounds whilst "Day Trip" layers its melody over a repe[[ve rhythmic base.

Next up, one of the *REAL* highlights makes itself known. Absolutely not to be missed, "Dealer's Corner" is all shiying tenors from quiet to hec[c and back around again. The hec[c parts are like a totally synthed-out-the-eyeballs jazz-funk collec[ve wigging out with the latest electronic toys from 1980. This one totally SMOKES.

The drama[c "Sad And Hopeless" is appositely replete with dissonant, minor churchorgan chords whilst "Riding Pegasus" uses a creepy os[nato bass melody to create irra[onal bleepy menace that's ripe for sampling. The penul[mate track, "Hopeless Chaos" is another disorienta[ng trip, a bleepy confec[on of sounds and phrases whilst closer "Goin' Mad" is all electronic percussion with an unpleasant rhthymic feel and irrita[ng melody. Music to annoy your partner with!

Established in Munich in 1965 by Gerard and Rotheide Narholz, Sonoton introduced library music to Germany. Ini[ally intended to cater to the country's new TV market, the library also provided an avenue for Gerhard Narholz's astonishing musical prolificacy, and soon became a haven for a wide range of European composers and musicians. In 1969, Sonoton struck a deal with the Bri[sh label Berry Music for interna[onal publishing rights, exposing its catalog to a worldwide audience; when Berry was bought out by EMI in 1973, Sonoton transi[oned into a full-fledged interna[onal label, with successes in the library and commercial fields and many innova[ons to its credit. Now a worldwide opera[on with hundreds of producers and composers under its employ, Sonoton nonetheless remains an independently run business s[ll helmed by its founders - a remarkable achievement in an era when nearly every other major library has been absorbed by a mul[na[onal conglomerate.

The audio for Drugs has been remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds be`er than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.

Tracklist: A1 Euphoria 1:49 A2 Soy Hallucina[ons 2:00 A3 Sky Move 2:40 A4 Destroyed Dreams 2:06 A5 Horror Trip 1:39 A6 Floa[ng Illusions 2:23 A7 Lost Chance 1:46 A8 The Morning Ayer 3:15 A9 Random Thoughts 1:12 B1 Heroin 2:44 B2 Night Trip 2:54 B3 Day Trip 1:21 B4 Dealer's Corner 3:23 B5 Sad And Hopeless 1:53 B6 Riding Pegasus 3:32 B7 Hopeless Chaos 2:15 B8 Goin' Mad 2:06