With the successful productions since the self-titled debut EP on Naked Music recordings released in 2003, Trentemøller and his band indicate that they are not just a one-album wonder, but they are here to stay and produce great follow-ups, an area where not all bands and artists have always succeeded.

For the last seven years or so, Trentemøller and his band have been refining and redefining the sound of electronic like no one has. They’ve taken said genre beyond the boundaries — even influencing modern hip hop (rumor has it that Timbaland learned production tricks from him). 

This time round 2010’s “Into the Great Wide Yonder” marks a progress compared to its predecessor but still retains the trademark elements, sounds and melodies of Trentemøller's previous works. It’s not techno, ambient or rock, but you could file it under electronic if you wish. But then it’s more than that, if not a whole new genre in itself.

Here you have it all, the minimal glitchy sounds, the bass synth "off the wall" melodies, industrial guitars and noises, the almost usual is all there, but then out of the blue, you are taken by surprise with surf guitars, live drumming and more of a band feel than Trente's previous efforts.

A dark, yet compelling and exciting cinematic type of an album, “Into the Great Wide Yonder” takes us into a journey that keeps the listener focused onto the next element thus creates a fine piece of work full of surprises.

From the apocalyptic opening song “The Mash and the Furry” to the laid-back psychedelic “Sycamore Feeling” accompanied by a vocal courtesy of the singer Marie Fisker, onto the electronic surf-influenced “Past the Beginning of the End” through to trademark Trentemøller melodies with a subtle string section and onto the vocally dry and melancholic “Even Though You’re With Another Girl.”

If you ever wondered how Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds would sound if they made minimal techno, well here you have it, unveiled for you in the form of “Haxan” and disintegrating into “Metamorphosis,” which is a fine electro-acoustic experiment musical for a high budget sci-fi film.

Hold on and be patient for this is to blow into possibly the craziest, and the deadliest combination of styles, the break beat industrial noise, the surf driven “Silver Surfer Ghost Rider Go,” and just when everything becomes too noisy, in comes the acoustic guitar song “Neverglade” that gives your ears and brain a bit of rest, just to finish off the album with a dark ambient psychedelic pop “The Tide,” with a pinch of hope. 

If you are a Trentemøller fan, or are a bit familiar with his music (or even the most experienced music listener), it will take you some getting used to “Into the Great Wide Yonder,” due to the different approach and songwriting structure of the album.

This album works fine both as a home listening, while driving at night
or to simply surprise your companion, nevertheless, anything that could be referred to as musical honey drops.

5 out of 5 (and I am not being generous)

The article was originally written in English.

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