Naming his original project Melancholic Punk, Doru Trascau makes it very easy for the music press to develop a coherent talking point. Or so it seems… ‘Million Ways’ doesn’t quite match the project’s outward description. In fact, there’s not a lot of punk here, except for Trascau’s own radical artistry. It’s all good: Melancholic Punk is actually a genius moniker, one that celebrates a creative journey that’s been years in the works. Hailing from Romania, Doru has been writing and performing all his life, never letting his trusty guitar go.
‘Million Ways’ marks Melancholic Punk’s first release of the year, a moment that highlights the arrival of a future album, ‘Moonologue’, expected in November. It feels like the start of something crucial, a powerful moment that will likely develop the project’s catalogue even further. ‘Million Ways’ showcases what we’ll hear in the forthcoming LP. Built on tender acoustic goodness, the piece feels sombre and raw, yet it never descends into sadness or gloominess, keeping us afloat with a spark of hope and love.
Interestingly, the recording itself wasn’t meant to be the final version, yet Trascau was never able to replicate the emotional pathos and quaint urgency of the original demo. The version we get is the only one that could have ever been released: vibrant and wholesome, a slice of unmatched tenderness in an otherwise complex and dark world. As a bonus, it’s also mixed and mastered by Brett Shaw (Florence and the Machine, Foals, Daughter).
Recommended! Discover ‘Million Ways’ now: