Personal Trainer – ‘Still Willing’ album review: a triumph of eclectic indie-pop
THE SKINNY: The peak of the summer has come and gone, but the endless supply of optimistic indie pop continues to dominate the airwaves. Far too often, in the case of modern indie, artists demonstrate a distinct lack of authenticity or originality, leading to the incredibly broad landscape of so-called landfill. In answer to this, Amsterdam-based outfit Personal Trainer have dedicated themselves to breathing new life into the genre, through an eclectic blend of styles and songwriting themes. Seemingly, though, this diverse sound comes from the inspiration of just one man.
After bursting onto the scene with the triumph that was Big Love Blanket, Willem Smit – the man behind the Personal Trainer moniker – received a considerable amount of attention, and rightly so. Of course, this newfound success brought with it more than a few challenges, and Smit manages to encapsulate the essence of that personal journey within the grooves of the latest album, Still Willing. Drawing upon a vast range of influences, from the colossal sounds of shoegaze to the tender indie folk of figures like Elliott Smith, it is difficult to summarise the record succinctly. More often than not, however, the record focuses on indie pop optimism.
While this sunny optimism makes Still Willing a perfect summer record, it does seem to work against the initially eccentric offerings of Personal Trainer. The opening track, ‘Upper Ferntree Gully’, for instance, is an eight-minute journey through the vast range of influences and techniques employed by Smit. The track is incredibly captivating, to the point where the pithy indie rock anthems which follow it in the tracklisting lose their lustre somewhat. They are not bad songs, for the most part, but they rarely live up to the high standards set on the opening track.
Personal Trainer does try to keep the tracklisting from feeling stale, slipping in a few melancholic folk-inspired songs among pop-centric efforts. Although these efforts are not always successful, they do at least show that Smit and co-producer Casper van der Lans have given thought to the ordering of tracks and the construction of the album as a whole, rather than just throwing together a collection of songs without any real thought. Ultimately, though, the record shoots itself in the foot by starting high and then petering out somewhat.
For fans of: Corduroy baseball caps, oversized sweaters, and pretending the 2010s never happened.
A concluding comment from Ben’s housemate: “I wish they could decide whether to be happy or sad. One minute, I’m basking in the summer sunshine, and the next, I’m crying in the shower.”
Still Willing track by track:
Release date: August 2nd | Producer: Willem Smit and Casper van der Lans | Label: Bella Union
‘Upper Ferntree Gully’: Starting an album with an eight-minute epic is a bold move, but one which Personal Trainer pulls off expertly. This track is a fantastic summation of the eclectic and profound sound of the band. [4.5/5]
‘I Can Be Your Personal Trainer’: After the cinematic wall of sound that was the previous track, this intimate offering tends to lack impact and originality, often bordering on the sounds of early 2000s indie folk. [3/5]
‘Cyan’: The highlight of this track is the occasional discordant saxophone, otherwise it is another fairly generic alt-rock tune full of retro optimism and adolescence. If this song does not get included in the soundtrack to an awkward coming-of-age film sometime soon, I will be very surprised. [2.5/5]
‘Round’: Perhaps the most accessible track on the album, this track is awash with indie-pop energy. In contrast to much of the current indie scene, though, Personal Trainer manages to add a sense of DIY authenticity and euphoria to proceedings. [3.5/5]
‘New Bad Feeling’: Switching pop optimism for folk melancholy, this song speaks to Personal Trainer’s ability to switch up the mood and atmosphere of an album at the drop of a hat. While this is not the most original offering out there, it works well within the album’s context to keep the tracklisting from growing stale. [3/5]
‘Intangible’: Incorporating influences of electronica into their distinctive sound, this track is a grand, compelling affair. An ideal tune for a little dance in the summer sunshine. [3/5]
‘Testing The Alarm’: Continuing the emotional rollercoaster that is Still Willing, Personal Trainer reverts back to tender, emotional songwriting on this track. The sonic menagerie and noise of the song’s peak make it one of the more enjoyable listens across the record. [3.5/5]
‘Still Willing’: Unfortunately, the album’s title track is among the most uninspiring offerings on the album. Taking on the same indie melancholy of previous songs, it offers little of note and never really goes anywhere. [2/5]
‘You Better Start Scrubbing’: Finally, Personal Trainer get back to the diverse eccentricities that they promised on the album’s opening track. The driving beat and unpredictable energy of the song make ‘You Better Start Scrubbing’ a definite stand-out track. [4/5]
‘What Am I Supposed To Say About People And Their Ways’: Personal Trainer end the record strong on this drawn-out shoegaze-inspired track, which flirts with varying themes across its five-minute runtime. [3.5/5]
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