A Mishmash of Changing Moods

The Netherlands' Applescal presents a hotly-anticipated second full-length album for Traum. These new tracks are cinematic, with moods ranging from uplifting and joyful to dark, melancholic and claustrophobic ones. Working on a stronger conceptual level has allowed Applescal to pull all the tricks out of the bag. "The Curle in Me" is a driving, quirky drum and bass sort of track that works with a disturbing deepness and melancholy. "A Former Curse" is a short interlude which sounds like a falling star, tumbling and spinning around its own axis until it is burned out. "Dialeague" is a heavy and mighty grinding caterpillar of a track, and "The Key of Genes" features a superbly-composed melody with unearthly, Aphex Twin-like attachment. "MC Iron" feels like a trip through an impenetrable jungle, full of beauty and tension, while "IB OK" is full of droning noises, engine-like, heavily spinning until it gives up its life. "Roofs of Heaven" is a piece of heavy, Detroit-touched psychedelic rock with great organ parts and feedback. "The Flop" feels like a hard and edgy piece of metal and its beat is like a smack in the face. Hard to imagine that it it turns to Krautrock after that. "Black Spirals" is almost a piece of easy listening with very sweet moments and hilarious changes of patterns and dynamics. "Door Weer En Wind" has a cinematic soundtrack feel - almost classic electronica a la Terry Riley. A Mishmash of Changing Moods has the fresh and lively spirit of handcrafted electronica, with an incredible analog sound.