Returning with their second LP, Modern Dancing, TRAAMS are back with an evolved sound that emulates the best aspects of their debut LP Grin and following EP Cissia.

The first track, ‘Costner’, bridges Grin and Modern Dancing elegantly, exhibiting a more frantic feel than most the other tracks on the LP, while feeling more coalesced than songs on Grin. It beautifully transitions into ‘Aᴒb’, the latter displaying more of the band’s flourishing sounds, before ‘Succulent Thunder Anthem’ rampages forward, hailing back to the disgruntled mesh present in Grin, with a repeating the mantra: “you know there’s ice on the road” intensifying into a short but effective eruption of post-punk carnage.

Compared to Grin, this Chichester trio presents itself as more concise, each slotting together effectively, particularly evident on ‘Sister’, a track where each member knows where to fit their piece into the sonic jigsaw, whether it be hauntingly jarring vocals or a throbbing rhythm section.

‘Modern Dancing’ and ‘Neckbrace’ provide minimalistic but elegant drums and bass, which present themselves as the prior would suggest; seemingly obtuse post-punk dance tracks. Stu fills the remaining space with out-of-this-world riffs and solos, accompanied by eerie lyrics.

‘Bite Marks’ serves as an unparalleled track to close with, displaying the best facets of the album, ending in a strangely tranquil but pounding furore – a metaphor for the album as a whole.

Modern Dancing can be split in to two, tracks such as ‘Silver Lining’, showing the trio broadening into new auditory dimensions, and the likes of ‘Succulent Thunder Anthem’ where Grin’s feel has been emulated and developed. It showcases a band that has made an effort to escape their frustration-charged shackles in Chichester, to a more expansive horizon, while maintaining the krautrock fuelled post-punk attitude that drove them onwards.

 

Euan McDonnell