Underneath the hooded guise of Trust, Toronto-based beatsmith Robert Alfons alchemises eerie, gothic electronic production that possesses anyone its ominous, foggy sound engulfs.
Joyland is Trust’s sophomore album but it’s the first time Trust has been Alfons’ own solo monicker, following the departure of fellow founding member and longtime collaborator Maya Postepski. However, this hasn’t diluted the potency of Trust’s magic – instead, with Alfons in complete control, the woozy programmed synths have never hit with such force.
For those unfamiliar with Trust’s spellbinding aura, Alfons’ brand of grungy electronica feels like looking into a swirling crystal ball, experiencing a lucid dream or walking down an empty street at midnight lined with flickering lamp posts.
That’s at its most ambient, though, as Alfons’ aesthetic also morphs into strobe lit, up-tempo club beats. For instance, lead single ‘Rescue Mister’ is a throbbing 90’s house anthem crafted with scintillating siren synths and waves of bass tailored for a gritty underground nightclub somewhere in London.
Ahead of the release of Joyland tomorrow on March 7th via Create/Control, Trust has given Tone Deaf readers access to an advanced preview stream of the LP alongside his very own track-by-track descriptions.
Slightly Floating
“The celestial causeway of calm. The silhouette, each viewed from the hill.”
Geryon
“Origins in Argentina, volcanic bullying, the promise of night’s that last forever.”
Capitol
“Gazing, scenic, living out the fantasy in your head. In flight fascination, and the beautiful burnout.”
Joyland
“Spontaneity saddens me. The pathetic nature of rejection, it’ll end in tears.”
Are We Arc?
“The wise, true love of braided patience. Triple speed delivery.”
Icabod
“Overwrought, oh rejoice, over complicate the choice. the brilliance and sad nature of one’s clown lineage.”
Four Gut
“The nature of obsession with obliteration, the rot, the ripened tides.”
Rescue, Mister
“A genderless duet of the best game you can name. I’ll never be afraid again.”
Lost Souls / Eelings
“So many jagged little eelings.”
Peer Pressure
“Infinite train tracks, defrosting and defrosting, time and time again I’m not that type.”
Barely
“The final fragments, wash the aorta, shards. Waking up in the field.”
Gear
“Made with a keyboard or two, and a heart.”
