Danish post-rockers Tales of Murder and Dust release their second LP, The Flow In Between, today on Fuzz Club Records. Formed in Aarhus in 2007, Tales of Murder and Dust have mutated from psych-surf which was displayed in their debut EP Peyote, released in 2009, to this noisy post-rock offering. They received critical acclaim for debut LP Hallucination of Beauty and so this album has been eagerly anticipated by fans and industry critics alike.
The album opens with ‘Tidal Wave’, a nine minute ode which builds in gradual oscillations with string enchantments to lure and entice. The vocals maintain the ambience created and as the track progresses it dances gracefully. ‘Black Reflections’, the second single from the album, utilises repetitive sound loops to create a sway within the sound and its inevitable you become drawn in. Probably the most upbeat track on the album, it offers a glimpse into a different side of things without straying too far into the light.
‘The Devil is a Poet’ opens with a quicker tempo and is methodical as it pushes how contrasting sounds compliment one another. The moody lyrics play nicely with the persistent drum beat, as does the repeated guitar riff. Overall a beautifully simplistic track which shows to strong effect that less if often more. ‘Mirror’ offers something different once more, with a once again faster tempo and overall heavier sound. The album is building in volume as it progresses and draws the listener in completely, anticipation tingling for what may come next.
‘Sisters’ was the first single thrust forth from this LP, with its motorik-esque bass line, dark vocals and surrealistic reverb. There is a lot going on here and the attention is drawn to the background mass of fuzzy noise as opposed to the more obvious elements. The central section with its guitar prominent interlude is what makes it special, the balance of the musical elements is so precise that everything can be picked out and defined as if it were functioning alone. ‘Distorted Ways’ is quite simply put, a stunning track. A different feel to its predecessors – with its repeated Eastern coda setting the vibe and the almost rushed vocals leave a sense of breathlessness. The more upbeat feel allows a reprieve from the darkness of the other tracks and a few precious seconds of silence almost break the track in two. The intensity builds until breaking point is reached and the song climaxes in a cascade of sound.
‘Endless Repetition’ concludes the album in fine style with a constant drum march driving the track and the jangle of the tambourine adding a lighter note to a consistently moody atmosphere.
This seven track record sits deeply within a melancholia so profound it jumps out of the music and straight into the heart of the listener with the result being a listen so intense that you’re left somewhat taken aback. A musically complex record, it may not sit well with some on first listen; there is required a comprehension of what has just happened in order to appreciate what they have created here. If that’s the case, I would encourage you to listen again and enjoy the experience of this LP in all its glory.
To order the album online: http://fuzzclub.com/products/tales-of-murder-and-dust-the-flow-in-between-vinyl
