[rating=4.00]
The new album from Toronto–based Trust, entitled TRST, is a very solid album from a young band. Labeled as “synthpop” and “dark wave,” it’s a great merger of danceable, poppy tunes and a darker, heavier edgy sound.
The album kicks off with a synth-driven piece that closes the gap between more industrial acts a la X-Marks the Pedwalk and dancier dark outfits such as Depeche Mode; having a softer edge than older XMTP, and a distinctly dance-oriented pulse. Lead singer Robert Alfons sings with a flat, darker edge, in a style that might best be described as a mashup of Interpol’s Paul Banks and Type O Negative’s now-deceased Peter Steele.
The songs flow along, in a solid progression. The album begins with a darker piece, “Shoom,” that perfectly sets the tone for the album, carrying with it a tension and subtle energy that immediately hooks the listener.
The second track, “Dressed for Space,” is a dancier (and more forgettable) song, which in turn is followed immediately with the fantastically dirty “Bulbform,” one of the highlights of the album. “Bulbform” has a killer mix of grimey low-wave synthesizers and four-on-the-floor dance beats capable of powering late night clubbing and dance parties with two-year olds (truth on the latter; happened just last week at this reviewer’s house); it begs to be cranked to a high volume on speakers with great bass response.
Flipping into a slower, languidly sexier gear are the aptly-named “Candy Walls” and “Heaven,” both of which roll along in a slow, yet still intense, form that seem to beg for red velvet and dim lighting. They perfectly complement the other more upbeat, dance-oriented pieces on the album, notably “Gloryhole” and “Sulk,” the latter of which serves as a fitting closer of the album.
With TRST, Trust has nailed it. It will be fun to listen to them grow on subsequent albums.
