Jena, Germany’s post-punk outfit Snow Trail sure did bring the heat for this debut album on the It’s Eleven label, where songs penned during the pandemic welcome electronic ideas into their often intense formula that actually seems suited for late-night activity.
“The Vice” opens the listen with Ace’s playful bass lines, before Padraig Silenos’ furious drumming enters the shimmering post-punk flavor that’s both hard-hitting and dreamy. “Mirrors” follows, and recruits plenty of atmosphere, where the lively rhythm section is aligned with frontman Pascal’s echoing vocals, and “Fragments Repeated” takes that lead into a scrappy and slightly ominous display of moody rock.
Moving into the middle, the brighter tone of “Global Village” uses spoken word from Silenos alongside animated synth, thanks to Pascal, that flirts with pop ideas. Meanwhile “Gravity” is a calm moment of floating beauty that, at just 90 seconds, leaves an impression.
The intensity returns for the thumping and darkly rhythmic “Constructions,” though it’s the ambient waves of “Infinity” that balances both light and moody ideas with tremendous skill and execution. The final track, “Teacups Placed In Sweet Disorder,” is another excellent selection, where pulsating guitar, rumbling bass and acrobatic drumming build into walls of pounding noise-rock.
The addition of Hannes Hofer’s sparing but effective alto sax on one tune can’t go unmentioned, too, as Snow Trail mash ’80s post-punk with bouts of dream-pop and no-wave tendencies into a fantastic full-length. The band recorded it themselves, and the guitar effects, well-timed synth and refined minimalism sure is appreciated. At a running time of just over 30 minutes, it’s a great way to spend a half hour. Or, if you’re like me, and possess an affinity for throwback post-punk, you’ll just listen to it twice.
