The new track offers a tantalising glimpse into the forthcoming debut album from the Rotterdam quintet.
Photo: Elmo Taihitu | Words: Joshua Tubb
Rotterdam post-punk quintet Tramhaus continue to captivate with their latest single, 'Once Again.' The single offers a deep dive into the darker, more mysterious aspects of the band's sound, diverging from the raucous energy of their previous release, 'Beech.'
'Once Again' is a masterful blend of indolent vocal lines and driving rhythms set against mournful lead guitar. It begins with a steady, assured pace, gradually building in intensity before culminating in a frenzied, joyous explosion of punk-rock abstraction. It's a track that balances the brooding with the uplifting, evoking comparisons to Slint, DIIV, Cage the Elephant and Dutch trailblazers Personal Trainer. That said, the sound remains uniquely Tramhaus, a testament to the near-symbiotic relationship between the five band members.
The low but hearty bass carries much of the sonic weight of this track. It thuds along, driving the springy guitar into the foreground. The song builds upon itself, adding more momentum and energy throughout its run time. Finally, Lukas Jansen's vocals split into a strained and bursting projection of the singer's voice across the final minute.
The accompanying music video, directed by Peter Marcus, is an experimental piece that reflects the absurdity of the digital age. Using a random number generator, Marcus compiled untitled videos uploaded to YouTube during the 2020 lockdown. The result is a fast-paced documentary of seemingly unrelated footage, inviting viewers to project their interpretations and create unique meanings from the chaotic visuals. As the band describes it, this is "art in its barest form," offering a narrativeless canvas for personal storytelling.
Since forming in 2021, Tramhaus has steadily built a reputation with a series of 7" vinyl singles and the 12" "Rotterdam" EP. With 'Once Again,' Tramhaus further solidify their place in the current post-punk scene, showcasing a sound that is both nostalgically familiar and refreshingly original. The single sets a high bar for their forthcoming debut album, 'The First Exit,' due out on September 20th via Subroutine Records.
No comments:
Post a Comment