Twenty One Trillion – LP2 LP (Expert Work Records)

Columbia, Missouri-based duo Twenty One Trillion is back with another superb record that will immediately convince you to delve even deeper into their previous recordings. The self-explanatory title “LP2” carries seven exceptional compositions beyond anything they did before. Surely, there are resemblances to the ambiance they shaped with 21​,​000​,​000​,​000​,​000, their impressive debut full-length, but this one unquestionably showcases the natural progression of the musicians who already achieved so much with their previous bands. Consisting of Justin Nardy (Amputee Set, Bald Eagle, New Tongues) and Todd Ramsey (Prozac Memory, Breaker Morant, Wintergreen, The Handshakes), Twenty One Trillion is not your ordinary post-rock band you stumble upon every day on social media platforms. Quite the contrary, these folks break all the rules and shapeshift boundaries like they did with their previous bands. However, this particular project reaches even further, into the vast sonic depths rarely heard or seen nowadays.

For this particular material, they aimed for a more ambient approach, where calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal instrumentations reign supreme. Considering these folks were previously involved in so many post-hardcore, punk rock, and noise rock bands, you’ll notice that the song structures follow that already paved path, but in a much milder manner. They also combined some of the finest properties borrowed from many different but complementary music genres like post-rock, psychedelic rock, experimental rock, and art rock, for that more than necessary extra kick that will tickle all your senses. These experimentations resulted in seven magnificent numbers, stacked with some of the best ideas and orchestrations you’ll ever hear from any post-rock duo out there. 

From profoundly ambiental, psychedelic post-rock pieces like “Rambis Youth,” ultimately reverby psych rock masterpieces like “Seedtick,” energetic dub-inspired “Sports With Friend,” or ethno and world music-inspired “Off Shift House Pink” to post-punk/surf rock/electronic mash-up “Motion To Quash,” 50s and 60s B-movie soundtrack “Banking Angle,” and electronic post-rock closure like “Feeble Enforcer,” this material carries something for everyone. With Todd Ramsey’s propulsive drumming sequences, intricate beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics and Justin Nardy’s expertly assembled and tastefully performed guitar maneuvers, there are no boundaries for this immensely creative post-rock duo. The mindblowing amount of catchy, addictive, hypnotic leads, themes, melodies, harmonies, chord progressions, riffs, accentuations, and other sonic maneuvers adequately match the equally complex low-ends and masterfully performed rhythmic acrobatics. 

Twenty One Trillion navigates a cathartic and psychedelic ambiance throughout the entire album, but still maintains their intricate instrumentations and arrangements. Their songwriting shines as every number arrives with many segments, decorated with mesmerizing and engaging orchestrations. They invested decades of experience and knowledge into “LP2,” resulting in an album you’ll gladly return to whenever you need flawlessly executed post-rock music. Of course, Justin Nardy’s Expert Work Records is known for top-notch records, and that’s the case with this masterpiece too. These songs arrive on neon yellow vinyl housed in a high-quality jacket, empowered with many interesting psychedelia-inspired photos. You should put this release on your radar immediately. Head to Expert Work Records for more information about ordering.