Rain Steam Speed finds Danish composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Nils Lassen bringing a long history of work across film, electronic music, and dream-pop into a focused solo setting. Arriving as his second album, the 11-track release draws from the restrained atmospherics of artists like Talk Talk and Slowdive while reflecting Lassen’s experience crafting intricate compositions across a remarkably varied creative career.
The album begins aptly with a sense of spring awakening as bird-chirping and fluttering instrumentation glistens into a more solemn melodic and rock-minded allure. “Lost And Found (Alba)” is a stirring track, from the opening “I’m lost and found” declaration to the haunting background harmonies, tracing a theme of self-discovery across moments of both introspection and soaring grandeur. The album’s title track arrives next, lyrically conveying a feeling of anticipation and being unable to “think straight” as hypnotic harmonic layers and a dreamy alt-pop demeanor flow, achieving a balance of serene sophistication and melodic power, a la The Blue Nile.
Another highlight, “Under Your Spell” delights in its art-rock and new-wave synergy, featured previously here, while the ensuing “Mama, Do You Think It’s Gonna Rain All Day?” crafts a blissful soundscape, weaving rainfall sounds and comforting choral-friendly textures into an invigorating send-off with riveting guitar jangling and beautiful backing harmonies. The title-referencing lyrical questioning envelops as well. Also catching our ears is “Invisible Ink,” with the hope that it “will end up somewhere close to your heart” and relaying “a message for you” expressively conveyed within a climactic ascent from understated rock intrigue to more multi-layered anthemic vigor. Nils Lassen showcases his tendency for crafting fantastic songwriting and soundscapes throughout the excellent Rain Steam Speed.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
