Now that I think about this album's cover, I'd also probably lie down in exasperation if a boulder landed in my driveway from the unknown. Although, wait a minute, could it possibly not be a boulder but a giant potato or a tree scraped of its branches and fruit? Trentemoller, a DJ known for his experimental output, chose this photograph for the cover of his newest album Lost, and the onlookers' casual bewilderment capture my feelings about this record in general. Awestruck, a little disgruntled, and when it comes down to it, accepting of all the theories and explanations behind this enigmatic piece.
With Lost, Trentemoller incorporates a wide range of influences, deeming this album one of his most diverse to date. Only five of the twelve tracks are done solely by him while the rest are collaborations with well-known artists such as Low, Jonny Pierce of The Drums, Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead, and Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes. The variety of vocalists gives the track listing a feeling of great variety, as each of these artists come from several backgrounds ranging from surf rock to downtempo, all orchestrated with Trentemoller's electronic touch.
From song to song, I felt as if I was moving through a lucid dream. I believe Trentemoller keeps the listener in this sub-conscious haze on purpose. The first song, "The Dream (feat. Low)" is a haunting, wistful melody, accompanied by the duo's piercing vocals. Low sings in minor pitches to each other, lamenting lyrics such as, "your mom was really your dad and you plead your own case because the lawyer you had just stood in your way, leaving you mad" and "every day we wake up to the dream."
On Trentemoller's website, a music video accompanies "Candy Tongue (feat. Jana Hunter)" depicting multiple bodies distorted by mist and drops of dark liquid. Men become women who morph into smoke. Trentemoller pushes the boundary of each song and gives the story personal space. Similarly, he does this on "Never Stop Running (feat. Jonny Pierce of The Drums)." Circling, dreamy synths stampede throughout the track while Pierce's vocals shout "never stop running" and "I don't know where I'm going," in turn creating an overall ominous build. To accompany this song, a video shows portraits of several well-dressed individuals in various spots, like a backdoor window or an alleyway. By shifting the camera's gaze from person to person, the sadness behind the vocals could come from anyone of their heads.
The strongest tracks on the album are definitely "Come Undone (feat. Kazu Makino)," "Deceive (feat. Sune Rose Wagner)" and "Constantinople." Kazu's voice shifts breathlessly over an elongated fuzz and a ghoulish piano. Two minutes in, one can see Trentemoller working in the posterior, clicking in bursts of glockenspiel and folding the sounds in on one another. "Deceive" runs similarly, although with a more clubby edge as he kicks up the rhythm similar to the usual verve of The Raveonettes. Sune sings between violin arpeggios stating "I'll tell you how I deceive you, how I drink you." This comes across as creepy, but makes sense within the song's dark territory. Lastly, "Constantinople" opens with a blazing organ over a heavy and fast-paced drum. The bass-line takes hold and punches the pace. I like the turn that "Constantinople" takes. It's more of an exploration of the disoriented and often wonderful feeling of realizing that you're lost.
If you're interested, I highly recommend checking out Trentemoller's page and downloading a copy of the album here. He'll be touring most of 2013 and 2014 with his live band.
Grade: A-
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