Prince Rama’s Trust Now [8.8]

Rest in Peace – Prince Rama

A true expansion upon previous releases, Prince Rama’s (@princerama2012) Trust Now represents the full creative output of the Larson sisters. With the departure of guitarist Mike Collins and the removal of traditional songs to augment the album, each track features solely material written by the duo. Though they received additional help from a percussionist and sound engineer, Trust Now is most definitely still a bold and very personal statement.

The first sound emitted from the record is a soulful, wordless vocal performance from both sisters. Somewhat reminiscent of the timeless power of  Aretha Franklin, this acappella introduction is soon joined by polyrhythmic percussion and complex Eastern strings, making “Rest in Peace” the perfect introduction to Prince Rama’s sound. The synth, strings, percussion and blissful vocals all combine in a deep and psychedelic way, and, as with much of their music, the song is incredibly spiritual and features Hare Krishna chanting.

Though the album only contains 6 tracks, it still manages to reach 35 minutes in length. Each song tends to stretch and last, but changes in instrumentation, tempo, and tone allow them to never outstay their welcome. “Summer of Love”, for instance, begins as a dirge but explodes midway through with an incredibly heavy but funky rhythm, chiming, and loud, joyful vocals. The song is also a fantastic representation of the brilliant percussive abilities and arrangement genius of this band.

Another recurring aspect of the music is frequent use of vocals as simply another expression of mood rather than a concrete message. Though much of the album isn’t sung in English, even those that are don’t seem to be an important aspect of the music. Close listening reveals only a few decipherable moments, mostly just the titles of songs or random phrases like “Ganesha” or “and your nose to the ground.”

These descriptions may make the album sound difficult to comprehend or avant-garde. While their music can be dense, the Larsons are also capable of writing more simple and almost poppy songs. “Portalling”, reminiscent of an 80’s synth-pop or new wave song, is beautiful and quite accessible, with clean and clear keyboards and comprehendible lyrics. Towards the end, the song even features a downright Rock and Roll guitar and bass riff. These accessible moments, particularly the Kate Bush-esq mysticism found in “Incarnation”, give the second half of album a more delicate, spacious feel than the packed beginning.

With Trust Now, Prince Rama have again proven themselves to be one of the most original of contemporary American music makers. They have an incredibly singular vision and never compromise.