Germany’s Long Distance Calling started life as an instrumental band, allowing them a wide range of style choices and creative freedom. ‘TRIPS’ is the band’s third album since introducing vocals to the mix, but that hasn’t stopped them experimenting with styles and influences. ‘TRIPS’ is a rich tapestry of sounds that may not stick with a consistent genre for too long, but is united by the sheer quality of songwriting and individual performances.
‘Getaway’ sets an appropriately dynamic tone from the start, the synths and reverb-heavy drums setting an electro-pop theme that somehow transitions seamlessly into a classic rock mid-section that wouldn’t be out of place on a Survivor record. Former vocalist Martin Fischer recently left the band and ‘Reconnect’ gives guest singer Petter Carlsen the chance to show his credentials. Carlsen’s voice is strikingly similar in tone to Spoken front-man Matt Baird, and his accomplished delivery adds a huge amount of melody to the instrumentals. ‘Reconnect’’s chorus is catchy and punchy and flows majestically into ‘Rewind’, the record’s power-ballad, which offers a further change in mood, and another excellent vocal performance.
‘Lines’ is the album’s centrepiece, both in terms of track arrangement and quality. This epic anthem flows from calm, alt-metal verses into explosive, power-metal sections with fast-paced riffs and an outstanding chorus that shows Carlsen’s voice at its very best. The band place more attention on their instrumental roots over the second half of the record, showcasing their post-rock credentials and experimenting with carefully constructed prog-rock song structures. From the tribal drum patterns of ‘Momentum’ to the guitar-led prog-rock journey of ‘Plans’, each song is a distinct departure from the last, but at a consistently high calibre. 13 minute opus ‘Flux’ rounds the album off with a stunning, sprawling anthem that makes you want to relive the whole package again.
At first ‘TRIPS’ can be a lot to digest. Navigating the transitions from electro-pop, to classic rock guitar solos, post-rock journeys and prog-rock epics takes some orienteering, but no matter what style Long Distance Calling attempt to play they deliver each with such high quality that you’re compelled to stick with it. By the end of the record you’re rewarded for doing so with a beautifully epic journey that ignores genre boundaries and simply delivers a fantastic collection of well crafted songs.
MARK JOHNSON