Drahk Von Trip - Heart And Consequence

Year of Release: 2005
Label: Transubstans
Catalog Number: EU-05
Format: CD
Total Time: 59:40:00

Drahk Von Trip are one of the many outstanding artists on the Swedish underground label, Transubstans. While there are a variety of sounds associated with this collective of artists, the single driving style is retro/psyche proto/prog. Most bands are on the heavy side, some approaching metal, but the sound is undeniably entrenched in the 60s and early 70s. Recorded, of course, with new technology, but none the less retaining the analog charm of the low-fi sounds. If you are a fan of this type of music, do yourself a favour and check out the transubstans roster immediately.

Now for Heart And Consequence, one of my favorites from recent releases on the label. Drahk Von Trip have been around for over a decade, yet it took all this time to release this incredible album[, their debut, aside from an EP released in 2004]. I don?t think the band is still together so this is a "one-off" type of deal, but it?s worth picking up nonetheless.

The music fits comfortably in the proto-prog psyche vein, but there is also a strong, folky element to the music with the inclusion of a multitude of exotic folk instruments. Most songs are reasonably long, allowing the band to stretch their instrumental prowess (which they do so well), so the songs gravitate between full out high energy jams and moody, atmospheric passages. There?s no instrumental waste - AKA solos, wanking, etc. - and the full hour is filled with melodic, driving music with absolutely no filler.

Something has to be said of singer Susann?s voice, which is deep, dark and husky without being raspy. Though vocals are not a priority on most songs, they are the most atmospheric and identifiable force on the record. Susann and band can never be labeled because their sound is so eclectic that they are absolutely unique. So much so, that a theramin was employed on the stunning last track to brilliant effect.

So if you are looking for something that rocks, that has spaces and textures, and is classic retro in every sense of the word, look no further for Drahk Von Trip delivers it all.

Other bands on the label (all of them are good) worth taking immediate note of are the hard rocking Siena Root, Lucifer Was and the excellent doom meets progressive folk of Faith.

Tracklisting:
One Of A Kind (5:59) / Autumn (7:13) / Anger (5:09) / Ode To A Goddess (6:32) / Long Distance Call (6:27) / Gahn (5:17) / Daddy's Dead (5:29) / RAMM (3:39) / In A World Of Trouble (6:59) / I Want To Tell You (6:51)

Musicians:
Twodox - keyboards, percussion
Susann - lead vocals, flutes, violin
Micke - guitars, backing vocals
Mats - guitars
Ralph - bass
Goran - drums

Discography:
As Is (ep) (2004)
Heart And Consequence (2005)
Major Breeze (2006)

Genre: Psychedelic/Space Rock

Origin SE

Added: November 25th 2008
Reviewer: Richard Zywotkiewicz

Artist website: www.myspace.com/drahkvontrip
Hits: 2706
Language: english