Oslo-based techno stalwarts Trulz & Robin are back with Dance Music Therapy, the long-awaited follow-up to 2004's Intersexual and their fourth full-length album since the much-acclaimed 2001 debut Mechanized World. After eleven years and a number of 12"s scattered through vinyl shops around Europe, it is about time that Truls Kvam and Robin Crafoord get back into full album mode … and the wait has been worth it. Dance Music Therapy is an excursion into deep, catchy techno, alternating between the unexpected and transcendent to the efficient and functional.
The album is comprised of tracks taken from the Dance Music Therapy singles series released on Cymasonic, a young label based in both Barcelona and Oslo. Spread over three volumes, these singles garnered glowing accolades from the likes of Laurent Garnier, Brendon Moeller, Nick Warren, Peter Kruder, Colin Dale, and Tensnake. This collection commemorates the completion of the series, as well as the two year anniversary of Cymasonic's debut release, which consisted of three of the songs heard here. Giving back to the dance floor and the home listeners alike, the songs on Dance Music Therapy are delicately mixed into one another -- creating a building continuity -- similar to experiencing a Trulz & Robin DJ set.
Highlights include "Daylight"'s strong Detroit pulse, the soul-searching ambience of "Adventure", "Blue Grass, Green Sky"'s mind-blowing techno journey, and the playfully experimental "Beneath the Surface". And there are many other key moments and evocative nuances to be discovered throughout the album's nine tracks. Dance Music Therapy proves to be an apt title as each minute is strongly emotive, but also physically engaging -- sure to spread from Oslo into the collections of techno connoisseurs the world over.
Laurent Garnier - "I will hammer 'Øyestikker'n' everywhere."
Brendon Moeller (Cielo / Bergain) - "Ace originals … well done!"
Nick Warren - “Stunning release … very cool, indeed.”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "Stunning. So refreshing and lovely."
Kruse & Nuernberg - “‘The Clearing’ is beautiful!”
Fabrice Lig (Motech / Fine Art) - "I'm always looking for tracks like 'Øyestikker'n' … I'll play it for sure."
Colin Dale (Abstrakt Dance) - “A really cool release … lush sounds.”
Rune Lindbæk (Drum Island / Luna Flicks) - "Love it!"
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone) - "Lovely, atmospheric, spacey tracks."
Dr. Motte (PRAXXIZ) - "I love the sound of the hang drum on 'Adventure'. Great release."
Chris Fortier - “Very nice vibe on all the tracks.”
diskJokke (Full Pupp / Smalltown Supersound) - “Great stuff!”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - “Beautifully produced - beguiling and compelling - simply a fantastic release.”
Available now from Beatport, Traxsource, and iTunes.