Valina - A Tempo! A Tempo!

A Tempo! A Tempo! is the latest album from the Austrian three piece Valina. It marks their third album and their first release since 05’s excellent EP Epode. The album was released this past spring through Trost Records. I am not entirely sure if the album will be seeing a US release, however it’s available now though the labels website.

For those that may have not heard any of Valina’s material over the past 10 years that they’ve been around, well now is a perfect time to start as A Tempo! A Tempo! is probably one of the best things they’ve recorded to date. The album brings together all the past elements of the bands sound and sharpens them even further. An already fairly tight band on record, they’re swaggering brand of math-rock is deceptive in a way that it’s sometimes easy to overlook at just how skilled this band is. Interweaving incredibly catchy melodies with the stop start directional mayhem comparable to that of some of the early to mid nineties finest, the band creates a distinctive sound of their own that is somewhat helped along by the vocals of Anatol Bogendorfer that gently hint at the idea of being upbeat enough to sing along with.

Featuring a new drummer (Anselm Duerrschmid) this time around, the band doesn’t miss a beat, featuring the same skittish rapid speed blasts of thundering drums as before. Also helping them along on A Tempo! A Tempo! is some of their pals from the Chicago band Cougars who contribute saxophone and trumpet pieces throughout the album, which may be one of the finest additions to the bands sound.

Valina – Dogged [MP3]
Valina – Eye’s a Window [MP3]

As noted before, A Tempo! A Tempo! can be had over at Trost Records. I highly suggest picking this up and possibly any other Valina release you may come across. As a matter a fact, both Epode and their second album Vagabond are both available though 54º40' or Fight! still. In the meantime, enjoy!