DONNER – The Van Gennep Gap

Being rather infatuated with this entity’s debut effort, namely the evocative Hesitant Light from 2021, I had high hopes for White Willow mastermind Jacob Holm-Lupo’s latest creation under the Donner moniker. Now that The Van Gennep Gap is out and I have had the opportunity to properly immerse myself in the beautiful-looking CD version that Apollon Records’ very own Otto-Egil handed me a couple of weeks ago, I can safely state that Donner’s sophomore opus is an excellent and most rewarding listen not to mention a worthwhile addition to the synthwave, krautrock, and electronic music genres. Ranging from bright and warmly appealing to disquieting and eerie, the record recalls the works of John Carpenter, Tangerine Dream, and Fabio Frizzi while managing to carve out a sound and identity of its own. Holm-Lupo even throws in a few jazz – and fusion-influenced licks and ideas just to add some extra flavor to the proceedings, and the compositions lack neither cohesion nor the ability to surprise and enthrall its recipient, which is superbly exemplified by the tracks “Grey Skies Over Stridsklev” and “I Saw Bright Lights Above the Hills.”

Highly accessible and with the focus being on the noble art of crafting a captivating song, The Van Gennep Gap comes across as a more solid and disciplined offering than Hesitant Light in terms of maintaining momentum throughout not to mention upholding a certain quality standard. Ultimately, there are simply more tasteful hooks to be found here, and it is a passionate niece of work and a very welcome return.