Two Trains
'Two Trains'
Anyone having read my review of Beyond Dawn’s Frysh and Virus’ Carheart will most likely realize that these units has broadened the Norwegian music scene with an entirely new angle, which is hardly characterized as ‘easy listening’.
Beyond Dawn’s Espen Ingierd [vocals] and Einar Sjursø [drums, also in Virus] have teamed up in Two Trains alongside Audiopain’s Olav Knutsen [guitar] and bass player Ole Jørgen Moe [veteran of the scene] – with an anonymous synth programmer [one in the band, I suspect]. Such a musical concept must obviously collide with the nature of conventionality by virtue of the collective pedigree, and expectedly... Two Trains is constantly changeling the audience as well as yours truly. No short cuts in sight, and I almost feel devoid words.
The music finds its parallels in the laidback, desolate wallpaper ambience of Ulver’s Svidd Neger, but is dominated by ‘a traditional band set-up’ contrary to Ulver’s unconventional set-up. Disclaimer! I never said that Two Trains play traditional music.
Two Trains is adapted for home-use, exclusively, when in a reflective, vegetative mood; turn down the volume, and unwind to Two TrainsÂ’ un-pop.
4/6 - Lolk, Antenna
Vendlus and Duplicate Records Forums » Announcements and Label Related Discussions
Two Trains reviews!
(10 posts)| Overall Post Rating: |  |
| How do you rate this post? |
-
Two Trains
'Two Trains'
We've heard it all before: the forlorn indie pop bands delivering messages of angst and anguish against a backdrop of meaty guitars and a heavy bass. But, the Norwegian band Two Trains gives the promise of something more. When I first listened to the album, I was overcome by the desire to hop in
my car and go for a drive along the coastal highway. With the rain pounding on the hood and the stereo turned up, Two Trains is perfect for the melancholy feeling of escapism brought on by a Northwest winter.
The self-titled album is an unusual mix of strong rhythms, droning bass, and ambient tones. All this is held together by soothing vocals and clean guitar melodies. Two Trains experiments with an eclectic mix of electronic sounds and complicated layering that make the album anything but dull.
From the onset, Two Trains offers up a complex lush sound that carries through every track. There is a distinct feeling of lighthearted ease reliant upon repetitious harmonies that dissolve into the discontent of
distorted guitars and baleful lyrics. "Give me Violence" is one of the best examples of this, and maybe this is the masochist in me, but it's also one of the best tracks. There is a moody darkness lurking throughout the album that gives a feeling of quiet submission as the pop overtones are overcome by gritty haze.
For those of you who appreciate a little warm, gloom-pop, Two Trains is a lovely album. Just turn up the stereo, and hit the road.
Chelsea Cochran, Left Off The Dial
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Two Trains
'Two Trains'
Out of the under-publicized pop nation of Norway comes Two Trains, an original little fourpiece who have quietly put out this unique, prog-influenced indie pop/rock record on the Duplicate label. This album
tries a bunch of interesting ideas out, and the results are predominantly positive. Aside from the aforementioned progressive influences, there are also some electronic and experimental tendencies on display here. As well, the melodies are often strange and unfamiliar, displaying various points of
comparison as diverse as Yo La Tengo, Pinback, and The Notwist. The songs are composed using minor key hooks, layered instrumentation, and unique dynamics. The guys behind Two Trains aren't afraid to take their own time with their songs, frequently coming up with gradual, slow-building compositions. Songs like "Sorry" and "Give My Violence" establish your interest by way of their stylistic freshness, but keep you coming back with lasting melodies and lovely atmospheres. If you've never heard anything
out of the Norwegian underground thus far in your life, now's the time to get acquainted.
87% - Matt Shimmer, Indieville
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Two Trains
'Two Trains'
What do you get when you put together Olav Knutsen, Ole Jorgen Moe, Espen Ingierd and Einar Sjurso, renowned for their work on Norwegian left-handed bands Lamented Souls, Aura Noir, Infernö, Virus and Beyond Dawn? Perhaps an intermingle between the oldschool doomy stuff of Lamented Souls meets the
"lounge-core cum dystopian pop tag" Beyond Dawn mannerisms? (Bruno A.) Well, with the collection of bands named, the average reader will probably (dis)regard Two Trains as something extreme. But anyway, with all this bullshit talking, I believe it has been made clear by assumption that Two
Trains have nothing in common with said projects apart from the musicians involved in the outfit.
The self-titled debut from Two Trains is a collection of eleven tracks with an out-of-the-ordinary edge and feeling, and besides some fairly generic and uninteresting moments, this post-rock electro ambient pop unit delivers a quite solid, attractive and mature dose of indie rock riffing-lead songs, such as "A Nosedive Into Luxury" or "Give Me Violence", interspersed with songs as "Equal In The Sea"'s dark chill-out lounge vibe. Remarkable are some passages along several of the best moments patented herein - take the absolutely poignant chord sequence in "Sorry", the electro layering chorus of "Side Effects" or the general melancholic ambience of "Half as Good" or "Somewhere Outside".
The experimental side of Two Trains is also very well accomplished, seeing that one can look out for a particular high number of details and fine points, as the harmonica usage on "Somewhere Outside". The vocals are clean and sung in a horizontal flat level, which is sometimes, to a certain extent, efficient, but I believe a stronger presence in this department would have enhanced the overall Two Trains approach and musicality.
All in all, Two Trains' debut exhales a very tranquil and relaxed atmosphere, which I assume to be related with the unpretentious way this album was brought out. The Norwegians output is one of the best releases on the ever-fledging Duplicate Records I've had the chance to listen to. There's stuff in this album that promises good things to the future of this project - even if most of the time these meetings between friend musicians don't exactly have a long history of releases. Play this to all the people you know who think heavy rock musicians have as much sensibility as an embalmed R2-D2 and perhaps you'll get some stunned gazes.
LuÃs Oliveira, Ventrilocution Zine
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Two Trains
'Two Trains'
Eleven tales of sea-blue deserts and derailed dreams. Pop for the un-pop." This is the tagline floating around for this criminally under-recognized album. Featuring members of Beyond Dawn and Lamented Souls, Two Trains crafts songs that tear at the heart, and open the mind. The music is not so unlike some Beyond Dawn material, mainly because of vocalist Espen Ingierd who compliments both bands with his stirring and distinct vocals.
The only band I would dare compare Two Trains to is Thought Industry. Two Trains tends to be more mellow and not as obviously quirky, but they share a common thread of great stylistic song writing, yet remain an ugly duckling in the rock n' roll sound because they just don't fit. They weave webs of intriguing and memorable melodies that even fans of Creed might enjoy, but those who can listen deeper will hear the absolute wrongness that both of these bands offer. Highlights of the self-titled album include "A Nosedive Into Luxury," "Sorry" and "Give Me Violence." Albums like this change the way I listen to music, and that is the true test of an amazing album. These tracks challenge me, and surprise me, subtly. Come to think of it, the last album that affected me in the same way was another over-looked record, Beyond Dawn's Frysh, possibly the finest and most awe-inspiring record of 2003. Regardless of whether the topic is Two Trains or Beyond Dawn, these Norwegians are making wonderful music that many people are missing out on. Time to cast your gaze away from the dominating black metal scene in Norway, and visit some under appreciated and just as "true" music.
JWW - Metal Maniacs
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Two Trains
'Two Trains'
This Norwegian act features members of Beyond Dawn and Lamented Souls and drops 11 tracks of very strange music that has a pretty experimental sort of thread throughout. Look out for a significant electronic presence both in the form of ambient soundscapes as well as manipulated instruments and
programming, lots of droning guitar and bass textures, soft singing vocals, layered song structures with lots of repetition, etc. Even the more structured and musical tracks have a lot of layers swirling around, so
there's always a strange sort of psychedelic twist happening, be it reversed riffs, bright clean guitar runs that pan between independent riffs, heavy reverb or glitchy electronic effects, and so on. "A Nosedive
Into Luxury", for example, has a lot of tangible guitar parts that have a really melodic and emotional side, as well as some nice bluesy lead runs, but the track is still left of center overall, ranging from nearly poppy sensibilities to a few passages more akin to noise rock. "Sorry" then follows with a weird prog meets indie sort of style, longer and even more repetitious than the other tracks at six minutes, with lots of angular riffing taking the lead over laidback percussion and soft vocals deep in the mix. "Give Me Violence" is among the more straightforward songs, and also among the best (as are some of the others that are a bit easier to grasp), whereas "Equal in the Sea" has some excellently dark chord progressions smattered with strange electronic sounds to break it up a little. "Half as Good" is another longer piece, again simplistic in hypnotic use of repetition, though as usual there's a lot of layering and added detail. This piece is more emotional than most of the others though, something about the way it carries from start to finish really hits hard, and it's my favorite song herein. The latter half of the disc is stronger
than the former, for sure, as the balance of styles achieves a greater equality and favors a more song-oriented type of format without cheapening the overall aesthetic of the music. The recording is a little muffled at times, seemingly intentionally at certain points, but I don't mind it. There's a faint ruggedness that adds a little extra warmth, and it all fits. At times things sound beautifully lush, occasionally passages can get intentionally acerbic, etc. For the most part everything sounds really
smooth and flowing though, so it works out great, and the almost oppressive density is often a benefit rather than a blemish. The packaging is incredibly strange, with a few abstracted aerial photos of train tracks, tiny images of toy trains, and one high contrast black and white spread of a weird psychedelic looking pattern. That's it. The only text used is for the band name and the song titles, there's not one bit of recording information, contact information, etc. The typeface chosen is quite awful, but other than it's a curiously minimal presentation that definitely poses some questions. An odd release as a whole. Good, but certainly odd. I guess they were probably going for something a little mysterious, and they've definitely succeeded. An unusual mix of influences, though one that does make sense. I don't know enough about this band to know whether or not more work will surface from them in the future, but it could be nice, because there's definitely room to grow within this approach. The first two tracks are misleading compared to the direction that eventually evolves, but the bulk of the disc more than makes up for that. Not bad at all.
7/10 - aversionline.com
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Two Trains
'Two Trains'
Along with the promotional cd's from Infernö and Lamented Souls I also received the debut album from Two Trains. Two Trains will be unknown to almost all of you, but I can tell the members involved come from bands like Lamented Souls, Infernö, Aura Noir, Virus and Beyond Dawn. If you are familiar with these bands you might think what kind of musical direction to expect from Two Trains. Well, I'll guess you'll be completely wrong there as Two Trains is completely different. In fact it has nothing to do with
metal at all. The band themself describe their music as a gritty sort of un-pop popmusic. Also this description makes things not any easier. But to be honest, I can not give a descent description myself as the music is very diverce. Maybe call it innovative rock or something. But what I do can tell is that this debut album sounds really interesting. It is not really music you have to listen to, this is music which comes to you instead and takes you on a musical journey throughout all kinds of different musical styles.
Like the band explains in their biography; the debut album will hardly sell in huge amounts. But I think that is because most of the music listeners of nowadays simply don't take the time anymore to explore an album like this. "Two trains" is not an album which you'll get into after only one or two listenings. This one takes about 20 or 30 listenings before you really see all the hidden beauty inside. And once you're into it, it won't let you go and makes you push the repeat button of your cd-player over and over again.
So if you're into experimental music, than this is really something for you. Also if you're into some of the In The Woods side-projects, than this will appeal to you. If you like your music easy than stay away from Two Trains as you won't like it. I'm sure about that. I once more push the repeat button again as I really enjoy this.
Marcel - vampire-magazine.com
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Two Trains
'Two Trains'
Beyond Dawn er vel helt nedlagt nå, men Einar Sjursø og Espen Ingjerd fra Beyond Dawn har ikke helt gitt opp den low-fi pop/rock/elektronika stilen bandet la seg på. Two Trains er en naturlig fortsettelse på Beyond Dawn, og her har de med seg Olav Knutsen (Lamented Souls) og Apollyon (Aura Noir
etc.). Dette har blitt et fint og behagelig pop/rock album med en del elektronika tendenser, og låter som "A Nosedive Into Luxury", "Give Me Violence" og "Half As Good" er strålende. Ikke alt på plata er like sterkt, men med den rette promoteringen kunne Two Trains gjort det rimelig bra i den mer alternative pop/rock verdenen. Om det skjer er heller usikkert. Savner du Beyond Dawn, kjøper du i hvert fall Two Trains.
4/6 - Martin Kvam - Monster
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Two Trains
'Two Trains'
This project features members of Beyond Dawn and Lamented Souls. The album sounds to me like it could have easily come between "Electric Sulking Machine" and "Frysh" from Beyond Dawn and perhaps bridged some of the stylistic gap between those two releases. I love them both myself so having this hybrid is a nice treat. Blending electronics, dark leaning Rock and an odd, melancholy sort of pop sensibility. The tracks show a nice diversity in tone and style while remaining cohesive. "Give Me Violence" strikes me as the most purely Beyond Dawn sounding piece, with its balance of driving rhythm section and quiet contemplation. Many of the melodic elements are rather dissonant, but it is all tied together with the gorgeous fluidity of the production and guitar tone, the prominent bass lines and the curious croon of Beyond Dawn's Espen Ingierd. Who, let me just add, can write a set of lyrics. Two Trains manage to convey emotion in a unique way that is difficult to quantify. The music conveys sadness and loneliness but it doesn't do that or anything else bluntly, you could just as easily find a smirk in many of these tracks than anything gloomy. The lush and some how raw composition also adds to this slight of hand. This is just a really impressive release, and a definite must for fans of mid to later era Beyond Dawn.
Scott, Worm Gear
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Two Trains
Two Trains
Duplicate, 2004
If you can imagine a world of ceaseless yet fluctuating rainfall spilled from swirling blue-grey clouds hanging in skies that reflect the wet and cracked pavement of a frigid, dreary city in which the people move in slow and comforting sadness, then you can imagine Two Trains as the soundtrack to such a setting. From this description, one may suppose this highly intriguing act hail from Seattle, WA, but no, it's frostbitten Norway instead. Two Trains is the curious result of members from the Norwegian underground, most notably Beyond Dawn and Lamented Souls. See, the Norwegians have an affinity for strange, off-the-wall forays from their main gigs, and Two Trains follows well in that tradition, yet musically, one would need to commit to an exhaustive search through the most obscure realms of the region's underground music scene to discover anything remotely similar to this.
Indeed, this music drizzles and downpours out of the speakers in subtle streams. There is an intoxicating ambience through this work that acts as a sedative, gently and carefully erasing the chaos of time in waves of nostalgic bliss. The music drifts and pulses in mostly slow and melancholic gestures, with occasional lapses into sonic intensity ("Give Me Violence"). Far away from the usual fare of these musicians, Two Trains is slow-motion ambient-rock of an experimental nature, with perhaps only the recent work of Beyond Dawn approaching anything near a suitable comparison. However, this reference owes much to that band's Espen Ingierd providing vocals here. His unique manner of expression and charismatic presence, along with the indie-experimentalism in which much of this music maneuvers within, brings the Norwegian "lounge kings" to mind more than any of the other bands lending members to Two Trains. Always a clever lyricist, Ingierd brings character and a bizarre poetic insight into human conditions to these peculiar songs.
Hop in the car and head off down the rainkissed highway, slip in Two Trains and feel these lush waves in the shape of songs rush over you, in a moment of grey-world embrace. Or, toss your drenched coat on the floor, situate yourself comfortably on the couch and welcome the hazy caress of "Sorry" to take you out of that chaos swirling in your mind from your time in the world outside. The soundpicture of Two Trains is strangely enveloping, slinking through disconnected yet lateral sonic tapestries in understated extravagance. Witness the dark of "Half As Good" yield to smooth transitions into tender harmonies for a taste of how this music drifts through fields of sound, going someplace further, yet not without a token object from each passage. Songs like the splendid "A Nosedive Into Luxury" and stealthy yet racing pulse of "Give Me Violence" contain an addictive touch that denies to be understood in anyway other than a creeping subtlety. Clever and charming, these songs contain that mystifying otherness familiar to most music of unique creativity and character. Excepting the useless short instrumental "Burmatek", which sounds like a leftover from Beyond Dawn's Frysh sessions, there is remarkable consistency here, allowing for a mostly relaxing and rewarding listening experience. Two Trains is a work that never allows its eccentricities to overtake its intelligence and atmosphere, yet establishing an endearing balance between these elements in the deliverance of some truly fine music.
Allen Donaldson/TheBleakHorizon.com
Posted 3 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.