Review Summary: Trioscapes has refined and defined their sound.
When separate Realities came out, Trioscapes was a completely different band, unfocused and unsure of their sound. While all three band members played with precision in the six off the wall songs they presented, it was clear that they didn’t fully understand what Trioscapes was.
Digital Dream Sequence picks up after extensive touring during which time they were able to hone their sound and become a stronger band. Playing more shows together and spending more time musically with each other has led to a far more cohesive effort of an album. The songs are more concise and have both more flow between themselves and more direction within themselves.
The title track rips right in with bass and drums hammering and sax wailing overhead. It’s groovier and at the same time more frantic and frenetic. This leads in to “Stab Wounds” a brutal and off-kilter track that leads into the more thematic and dramatic “From The Earth to the Moon”. “Hysteria” tears into itself with the jazziest breakdown I’ve ever heard, leading into a Spanish groove and coming back to insanity firing on all cylinders. The final track, “The Jungle” sprawls across the end of the album, calling to mind newer King Crimson while remaining a very Trioscapes track.
No one in the band seems to be slouching on this album. Matt Lynch hammers out technical and powerful rhythms, laying the groundwork for Briggs and Fancourt to riff over. Everyone is at the top of their game, switching tone, mood, and time signatures as though it were easy. The inclusion of keyboards on some tracks has also helped to fill out their sound, making this album less sparse than its predecessor.
All in all, Trioscapes has refined their sound and defined their band, without losing any of the frenetic sense of adventure and absurdity that made them so interesting to listen to in the first place.
