Trentemøller Lost

Trentemøller
Lost

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“Lost”, much like its predecessor “Into the Great Wide Yonder” (2010), serves not only as a logical continuation of Trentemøller's work, but also as yet another fuck-you to whatever genre you thought you had him boxed into.

The Trentemøller sound is definitely left intact, yet as a whole it really doesn’t sound like anything he’s ever produced before. Few artists seem to possess that special talent of leaving the audience just as baffled as they are satisfied, but hey, that’s what’s great about Anders. He may alienate a few heads along the way, but it wouldn’t be interesting for him if he didn’t.

“People wanted something similar to the last album, but if you’re getting to the point of listening to people and what they think of your sound...Well, that’s not for me”, says Trentemøller.

“Lost” boasts a dozen tracks with something of interest for anyone who’s ever been a fan of the Copenhagen based producer. You can’t really compare it to “The Last Resort”, but the club elements are there. It definitely isn’t “Into the Great Wide Yonder” either, even if it’s equally guitar driven. It’s as original as it is classic, mixing the tried and tested with all sorts of sonic surprises. And making it look easy in the process. 

Differing from “Into The Great Wide Yonder”, which was a rather bold cinematic landscape, “Lost” is definitely a far more streamlined affair and way more “song structured”. It’s the kind of record one can only produce after endless months of studio isolation. Just where his creativity flourishes best.

That said Trentemøller has also found a new home – and it’s on stage with a band. “Lost” relays this epiphany in pitch perfect circumstances, finally merging the extrovert and introvert qualities the man has in his command.

Of course, none of his productions would be complete without those unique guest appearances, spanning a multitude of musical categories. They’re all given equal treatment when they’re dropped bang center into the middle of Trentemøller’s very own musical universe, having to harness the potential of their talent on Trentemøller’s terms. It certainly isn’t that many folks who are capable of convincing Jonny Pierce (The Drums) or Sune Wagner (The Raveonettes) to appear on a club track and even fewer who are able to pull it off. Anders is in the top percentile of that lot.

”I think it’s fun to take people out of their own musical comfort zone” he exclaimed to VICE when explaining his seemingly erratic choices. ”Actually, when I begun writing the songs, I had their voices in my mind all along. They just didn’t know it.” 

Trentemøller

 

Aside from Sune and Jonny, Trentemøller has managed to bring on board a whole rake of fantastic peers, personal influences and sprouting talent. Co-conspirators such as Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead), Jana Hunter (Lower Dens), Marie Fisker, Ghost Society and none other than the legendary slow-core pioneers Low are all to be found on the record.

That trademark haunting feeling that defined both ”The Last Resort” and ”Into the Great Wide Yonder” hasn’t been neglected on “Lost”. It’s just been redefined and made way more ferocious, the signature glitchy bass being replaced by sub woofer frequencies far more pounding. Almost punk rock. Instantly conjuring up thoughts of the more droning Suicide tracks or even contemporaries like The Soft Moon.

”Lost” documents an artist really hitting his stride. An intricate musical tapestry woven over countless sleepless nights in his Copenhagen studio. Nights invested in instrument experimentation and trashed analog consoles. You can without a shadow of doubt call this release a genuine study in the art of attention to detail. No matter how many times you press play on this one you’re going to find something you missed the previous time around. Something that suddenly shines a whole new light on what you’re listening to. 

Is this the record you expected from Trentemøller? No.

But would it be a Trentemøller record if you got what you expected? I doubt it. 

"Showcasing a little black book of contacts including Low, The Drums’ Jonny Pierce and The Raveonettes’ Sune Rose Wagner, this collection is beautifully executed. This collection is beautifully executed…" (Clash Magazine)

"His new LP, Lost, delivers those goods, and takes his music to the whole new heigths. Lost is certainly a record that never stops running." (Under The Radar)

“The “underdog” status that initially set him apart is unclear now, as he seems fully at ease in the limelight, creating serene electronic masterpieces with confidence and maturity.” (MXDWN)