Deck the halls! Splice the mainsail (whatever the s**t that means?)! Cover the children's innocent ears! Stomp around in the nude why not! The new album from Denmark's finest, The Kissaway Trail is in my hands and in my ears and it's a scorchingly triumphant joy-smash of a thing. I'd like to make sweet love to it. Imagery to make you feel quite sick aside it's very great. Here's why.
Opening track SPD (not to be confused with the SDLP) rips through the air like a tornado. Drums so big that they could beat the shit out of you and I have to say I'm a sucker for bells. Howling Bells, Belle And Sebastian, Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, all good, great even but none of them actually have big clanging bells taking your breath away.
Here though there are such things and we should all rejoice. And that's what this record makes me want to do. Sure it's not out yet and I'm a cheeky bastard for asking their label for a sneak preview of it. They're mental like because I'm just gonna stick it up on the net.
Put the heart attack away people of The Kissaway Trail, their label and management, I would die a death of swords and fire before I would do such a thing, mine are the safest hands in music. One can joke though, can't one? Actually, that s**t is no joke at all, shame on me. All that shameful business aside, do wait for it to come out and please BUY IT as it's something very special indeed.
This their second full length record (their eponymous debut came out two years ago) and is full of wonderful moments too (check out It's Close Up Far Away and In Disguise for proof of that) but they have come far in two years and this is a giant step forward in so many ways. The rolling, roaring accordion and frantic vocals of Don't Wake Up for a start is the sound of a band teetering on the divine edge of madness and finding genius (the two generally never far from each other). It's sensational.
There is so much depth to all of it it requires many listens and I probably haven't lived with it long enough to fully understand the whole wonderful insanity of it all but I can't stop listening to it so I'll get there in the end.
The Kissaway Trail then. Marvelous. Sorry, went a bit Jazz Club there. Nice. Also they are on one of the UK's greatest treasure trove labels Bella Union, home to the frankly f**king awesomeness of Dirty Three, Howling Bells, Explosions in the Sky, Midlake, Fleet Foxes and J Tillman (more on this last fella in future posts) and many more beauties.
One of those labels (like Domino or Kitsune) that you can simply see the name Bella Union on the record and pretty much guarantee the contents will be magnificent. So if you don't yet trust me then trust Bella Union. We all should.
Peace in the Mid-West.
G.x
Unfortunately there aren't any previews of the new album online yet... in the meantime check out these two tracks from their last album:
12:05 PM | 13/08/2009
More Photos Of:
Latest News
-
Dave Grohl writing a sitcom, Noel Gallagher compares Chelsea boss to David Brent, Bon Iver & Alicia Keys collaborate, Black Sabbath reunion hitch, Damon Albarn to take Dr Dee to festival... Daily Hot List
A round-up of all the news, views, interviews and cool music things online today (3 Feb)
-
New To Q With Chris Catchpole - Q308 A$AP Rocky, We Are Augustines & Ren Hervieu
Plus our new music man takes stock of last week's Q Now: The Sessions shows
-
La Roux in the studio: 'Nile Rodgers' influence is making my second album sexy' - Q308 preview
Elly Jackson reveals the inspiration behind her new direction in our new issue
-
Gig Ticket Alert - Garbage, New Order, Tribes, Happy Mondays & more
Your weekly round-up of the tours and shows about to go on sale
-
R. Kelly shares new single, Kanye West plans Middle East movie, Justin Bieber goes skateboarding with Lil Wayne, Amy Winehouse inquest could be reopened, OK Go reveal Sesame Street video, St. Vincent to appear on Gossip Girl and more - Daily Hot List
A round-up of all the news, views, interviews and cool music things online today (2 Feb)
-
Q308 - Q Quiz win a trip to the Snow Bombing Festival in Austria
Just 21 questions stand between you and a music festival in the Alps...
Advertisement
User Comments
Post A Comment
Cheeky bastard for asking for a sneak preview - are you kidding?
You Gary, are the best one-man promotions department a label could hope for! The way you wax lyrical about the tunes you like is a joy to behold. None of that stuffy journo-speak for you, there's real feeling in your words. And your enthusiasm is so contagious it certainly makes one want to chase the stuff down - like, NOW - and have a listen. So while you've done nothing for patience, or thrift for that matter, my how all this music has brightened our days. And the economy needs stimulation anyway, right? The powers that be should be trying to get new work into your hands and headphones. A case in point: aren't we all gagging for a listen to Biffy's track-to-come? What a tease...and how effective it was! Cheeky indeed!
Posted by Debbie at 8:53 AM | 14/08/2009 | Report Abuse
Post A Comment