Fantasy Math

FLASHBACK

Trumpery Metier
Crime in Choir
Gold Standard, 2006
3.5 stars

What ever happened to the kids that played 'Magic: The Gathering' at school lunchtime and painted Warhammer figurines on the weekend? Well, it would seem they got together and, with a couple of At The Drive-In off-cuts, formed instrumental math-geek rock outfit Crime in Choir. If this music wasn't so good it would just be downright funny - Trumpery Metier plays like a 40 minute prog-rock crescendo, all wailing guitars, and triumphant space-synths. Often, the 'good bits' in songs sound so good because of the lead-ups that precede them. Trumpery Metier, however, doesn't waste time with such things, going from climax to climax with little down-time, making for an exhilarating (and exhausting) listen. Fans of Crime in Choir's thrilling self-titled debut will find this album a daring step off the worn path for the group, but the treasure at the centre of this fantasy-rock fortress is worth battling the orcs and dragons to get your hands on.

Artwork: B-