TRYPTAMIN: Piacenza, Wisconsin (ALTERNATIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

It's an unexpected comeback, to say the least. In 2013, Tryptamin released a debut album entitled "Monday Hangover", which featured a skilful blend of genres, from post-rock to alternative rock, new wave and ambient. Each of the tracks on this album had its own particular sonic identity, and despite a few lengthy tracks, the Italians had not only succeeded in making a name for themselves, they also had everything they needed to do so. Fate decided otherwise, and a year later, Tryptamin went out of business, leaving us with the impression of a big mess. The totally unexpected announcement of this transalpine band's return raised a number of questions. Eleven years on, will the qualitative gap between the two albums be as marked?

The eclecticism that characterized the previous album is once again apparent from the very first seconds: 'The Hardest Thing To Quit' starts indolently with sparkling piano notes, the atmosphere becomes increasingly heavy until the arrival of vocals over electro beats. The guitar then comes in to burn a few decibels. In three minutes, Tryptamin proves that, after the news of its resurrection, it can pleasantly surprise us. The album proves elusive in its genre-less spirit. The singer's deep voice, sometimes reminiscent of a Chris Martin or Anthony Kiedis with an Italian accent, is magnetic and encourages us to follow her on this quest between controlled rage (the guitars) and melancholy (the keyboards). From aggressive rock ('Mother***ing Bomboclat') to more intimate, even pop moments ('Faxhall Nights 2001' despite its disjointed ending), there's something for everyone. One track stands out from the rest, 'Another Day In The Hillside', which takes us through all kinds of emotions, starting out in darkness and gradually leading us into the light of a ballad thanks to the silvery arpeggios of the guitar.

The album title pays homage to the band's hometown, and adds a slightly more exotic destination, the American state of Wisconsin. The band's aim is to push back the boundaries of both sound and space, to make people feel that elsewhere could also be home. The opus turns out to be a little short (38 minutes), leaving the listener a little hungry for more. The band seems to be moving ever closer to progressive rock (as evidenced by the final track), but some of the segues between the different segments could be a little improved, made more fluid to achieve this.

Nobody was expecting them, and yet they returned with all the freshness of their debut album released in 2013. Nine years later, Tryptamin and their rich, eclectic music have not aged a bit. To be enjoyed without moderation. - Official website

TRYPTAMIN

PIACENZA, WISCONSIN

AUTRE LABEL

ALTERNATIVE ROCK