Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


As he's moved further towards a career in soundtrack composition, Trentemoller's music has become increasingly widescreen and atmospheric, with the Danish artist drawing inspiration from dream-pop, the Cocteau Twins and Durutti Column as much as the ambient, electronica and immersive techno he was once famous for. All of these strands combine beautifully on 'Memoria', a picturesque and enveloping affair whose multitude of highlights include the yearning, string-laden and bittersweet brilliance of 'No More Kissing The Rain', the wall-of-sound dream pop shimmer of 'In The Gloaming', the mid-80s indie-pop haziness of 'Dead or Alive' and the glassy-eyed and tactile 'All Too Soon'.

Review: It's been three long years since Danish producer Trentemoller's last full-length, almost an eternity in electronic music terms. In that time, his capabilities clearly haven't dimmed, because Lost is arguably his strongest album to date. While his ear for bewitching soundscapes remain - see folksy ambient opener "The Dream" - he seems to have used the time to create tracks that showcase a broader range of influences (new wave, dark leftfield pop, electronic jazz, smoky torch songs), greater emotional depth and increased musical complexity. As such, it's an album that rewards repat listens, but those rewards are well worth the investment.

Review: It's been three long years since Danish producer Trentemoller's last full-length, almost an eternity in electronic music terms. In that time, his capabilities clearly haven't dimmed, because Lost is arguably his strongest album to date. While his ear for bewitching soundscapes remain - see folksy ambient opener "The Dream" - he seems to have used the time to create tracks that showcase a broader range of influences (new wave, dark leftfield pop, electronic jazz, smoky torch songs), greater emotional depth and increased musical complexity. As such, it's an album that rewards repeat listens, but those rewards are well worth the investment.

Review: Studio album two from Danish electronic icon Trentemoller was a landmark for the producer and DJ. Already more than a decade into his career, and with a strong fanbase among techno, alternative electronica, and ambient listeners, this was the difficult second that cemented his status among the upper echelons of synth artistes. Destined to outlast the scenes and sounds from which they emerge. Producing a number of hit tracks - 'Sycamore Feeling' is still up there with Trentemoller's most recognised and beloved pieces - Into The Great Wide Yonder peaked at number two in the Danish Albums Chart, hit the Top 40 in the German album chart, and would receive double silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association within a year - 40,000 copies sold (at time when sales were flatlining) - giving some idea as to how universally loved it is.

Review: In May, Trentemoller unveiled his first new music since 2022 with the single 'A Different Light,' a blend of prismatic space rock and folk. Now, his full length album is here, Dreamweaver, featuring ten tracks, showcases Trentemoller's expansive musical talents while marking a significant artistic evolution. Iceland's Disa, who joined Trentemoller on the Memoria tour, lends her vocals, having previously contributed to the 2022 singles 'Into The Silence' and a cover of The Raveonettes' 'Cops On Our Tail.' The album opens with 'A Different Light,' highlighting Trentemoller's signature dichotomies, musical shadowplay, Nordic frigidity, and warmth. This leads into the hypnotic 'Nightfall,' characterised by ethereal vocals, melancholic guitars, and a serene desert ambiance. 'Dreamweavers' follows, starting with a shortwave radio-like scan that eventually locks onto a weightless voice, transitioning into a lush, grand soundscape. The album then intensifies with 'I Give My Tears,' driven by a gritty bassline, and the chaotic noise rock of 'Behind My Eyes,' featuring clashing guitars and explosive choruses. These tracks evoke proto-gaze dream pop, yet push the genre's boundaries. A tranquil interlude arrives with the somnambulistic 'Hollow' and 'Empty Beaches,' before the album surges again with the dynamic 'In A Storm.' The ambient 'Winter's Ghost' and 'Closure' provide a soothing conclusion, blending slo-core textures. Dreamweaver, released on Trentemoller's In My Room label, should impress his loyal following as well as gain some new fans also.

Review: As he's moved further towards a career in soundtrack composition, Trentemoller's music has become increasingly widescreen and atmospheric, with the Danish artist drawing inspiration from dream-pop, the Cocteau Twins and Durutti Column as much as the ambient, electronica and immersive techno he was once famous for. All of these strands combine beautifully on 'Memoria', a picturesque and enveloping affair whose multitude of highlights include the yearning, string-laden and bittersweet brilliance of 'No More Kissing The Rain', the wall-of-sound dream pop shimmer of 'In The Gloaming', the mid-80s indie-pop haziness of 'Dead or Alive' and the glassy-eyed and tactile 'All Too Soon'.

Review: As he's moved further towards a career in soundtrack composition, Trentemoller's music has become increasingly widescreen and atmospheric, with the Danish artist drawing inspiration from dream-pop, the Cocteau Twins and Durutti Column as much as the ambient, electronica and immersive techno he was once famous for. All of these strands combine beautifully on 'Memoria', a picturesque and enveloping affair whose multitude of highlights include the yearning, string-laden and bittersweet brilliance of 'No More Kissing The Rain', the wall-of-sound dream pop shimmer of 'In The Gloaming', the mid-80s indie-pop haziness of 'Dead or Alive' and the glassy-eyed and tactile 'All Too Soon'.

Review: The first new music from Trentemoller since 2022 proves to be his furthest foray into the area of dream pop and shoegaze-esque alternative sounds yet. Two bands are obvious reference points here, namely Cocteau Twins - see the dreamy, hazy 'Empty Beaches' and the vocals of Icelandic singer Disa, throughout - and The Cure, whose dark-edged instrumentation provides a grounding counterpoint to the more shimmering, ethereal sounds. That's far from the whole story though. There are other treats like 'I Give My Tears', with a searing Mary Chain vibe, and the beatless centrepiece 'Hollow', not to mention subtle electronic embellishments throughout, proving there are many musical facets to what's going on here. One for the dark nights ahead, for sure.