Sonar

Sonar (Swiss) is a minimalist progressive quartet formed in 2010, led by guitarist Stephan Thelen. The band is defined by a rigorous conceptual framework: both guitarists and the bassist use a unique tritone tuning (C-F#-C-F#-C-F#), which creates a naturally dissonant, 'dark' harmonic palette.

Their sound identity is rooted in the intersection of 20th-century minimalism, math-rock, and the 'disciplined' era of King Crimson. Unlike the Belgian industrial project of the same name, the Swiss Sonar focuses on clean, electro-acoustic precision rather than electronic noise. Their career arc is marked by a steady refinement of 'groove-minimalism,' notably collaborating with David Torn on later releases like 'Vortex' to add textural depth to their rigid structures. Critical consensus positions them as a leading light in modern avant-prog, praised for their ability to make complex mathematical music feel physically hypnotic. They are a bridge between the cerebral world of contemporary classical and the visceral energy of post-rock.