When I woke up earlier today, the warm morning sun shun through the window. As usual, I took a nice, relaxing shower prior to the start of my workday. Upon drying myself off, I looked out the window and noticed that it was raining. Not an absolute downpour, but enough to make the birds outside chirp with glee. I guess they enjoy a little morning relaxation, too. Spring is definitely in the air.
As I drove to work, the sky began to clear, and the warm sun dried up most of the puddles in the road. So far, a beautiful day had transpired. In the car, I was listening to Ms. John Soda’s No P. or D., and I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of inner peace. I drove into the parking garage at work as the last song of the album closes...
Ms. John Soda is the current side project by Notwist’s Micha Acher and Couch’s Stephanie Bohm. It is possibly one of pop music’s most surprising masterpieces. The combination of electro-pop grooves and beats intertwined with sultry and silky vocals make the perfect soundtrack for a beautiful spring day. Micha Acher uses the same simplistic musical approach as his critically acclaimed Neon Golden with Notwist, building a musical score layered with luscious sounds, melodic hooks, and down-tempo beats. His ability to create one perfect rhythm after another is compelling, to say the least.
But what truly makes this album spectacular is the addition of Stephanie Bohm on vocals. Her delivery is charismatic, reminiscent of a sunny day, but it can also be soft and subtle like a misty afternoon shower. This seductive voice makes me think of Emma Anderson and Miki Berenyi in Lush during 1990s Gala. Angelic and charming, Stephanie Bohm can sing the blues away and bring back the sunshine on a cloudy day.
Together, Ms. John Soda has created a stunning record. This may possibly be the best collaboration of any pop record that I have ever heard. Let’s hope that this “project” can turn into a full time partnership. But for now, inner peace will do.
1. Technicolor
2. Misco
3. Go Check
4. Solid Ground
5. By Two
6. Unsleeping
7. Hiding/Fading
8. Elusive