Aug 13, 2024
In January 2024, my favorite label, Knekelhuis, released the debut album Sfumare e Vedere by the project Trystero, which I consider one of the most interesting albums of the year due to its uniqueness and distinctiveness. This relatively new musical project is a collaboration between Thomas Lea Clarke (aka MR TC) and Low Bat, who is also known as one half of the duo Jean-Luc.
I’ve known both musicians for quite some time, and they rank among my favorite DJs and producers. However, I’ve always categorized them in slightly different musical “boxes.” Their collaboration on this joint album, therefore, came as a big surprise to me, and it’s no wonder that it immediately captured my interest.
The album itself was reportedly created over the course of just three days, in the unconventional setting of a historic boat anchored near Paris. It’s a more challenging listening experience that requires the right mood, but when it hits, things happen.
The catchiest track is the opener, Ritmo Dell'ellica (con Rita), which you’ll soon find yourself singing along to, even if you don’t understand a word. Almost the entire album is in Italian, but thankfully, the physical LP comes with an insert containing the lyrics and their English translations.
The second track, La Lingua Rosso, is noticeably darker. The phrasing and almost spoken-word lyrics, combined with a psychedelic synth background, create a strange sense of urgency that gives me chills. This feeling is heightened in the following track, La Vostra Autonomia, by the absence of drums.
The ambient darkness is brought back to rhythm with Rock dei Pelicani (con Alexia), one of the more song-like pieces on the album, whose krautrock guitars will echo in your mind long after the track ends.
Also noteworthy is the penultimate track, Suburra, which, with its pounding 4/4 beat and gradual energy build-up, never fails to drive me wild. This is exactly the kind of track that destroys clubs.
I’m disappointed that this release went unnoticed on the Czech electronic scene because a Trystero concert would be reason enough for me to visit a local club or festival. Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to catch them in a neighboring country soon. In any case, it’s a fantastic album with an original genre-spanning sound.
dM
