Apology Accepted
released December 3, 2017
Johan Troch was part of the post-punk band Last Journey in a distant past. A legacy that he knows how to keep alive. But afterwards he has taken a completely different path. There is now a compilation from which gives a nice overview of the man’s oeuvre.
The music of Johan Troch can be described as instrumental soundscapes with elements from genres such as ambient, avant-garde and cinematic music. On “Apology Accepted” he has selected 17 tracks from his seven albums. The emphasis is a bit on his debut ‘Changes’, of which the most numbers are represented here. In addition, there are at least one or two tracks of every other album on this collector. The album forms a beautiful organic whole. Musically you do not hear that “A New Day” is an old and “Behind The Screen” is a recent track. “Apology Accepted” can be an ideal soundtrack for a sauna night or an evening with a glass of red wine and a good book.
Until now, every album was only available digitally, but for this anniversary edition (twenty years composer) he also has a CD release. Johan Troch is a composer and not a performer, so you will not come across him on stages, but the music is certainly no less. Anyone who wants to get acquainted with his music, gets with this compilation an ideal starter package.
Wim Guillemyn
http://www.musiczine.net/nl/nl/cdreviews/johan-troch/apology-accepted-1997-2017/
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'Infinite Distances'
released January 24, 2016
In the 80's, Johan Troch was the singer and guitarist of the post-punk band Last Journey. After the band called it a day, it went quiet.
And then suddenly, Troch began recording instrumental records that are a contrast to the cold wave/post-punk of Last Journey as they have an ambient character. Johan distributes his music mainly on Bandcamp.com through his own label Adagio Productions.
Troch does not perform his music on stage.
As always, this album by Johan Troch is made in a professionally way. Opener 'Into The Night' floats on a warm bass and atmospheric synths with attention to detail. 'Conditioned Beliefs' is a track that mainly consists of a reverberant piano. At first it sounds like a pop song, but it develops in another direction.
'Artificial Intelligence' includes a sample of Robert Fripp (King Crimson). The guitar line of Frippertronics is mixed in the song. Well done.
There are a lot of guest musicians included, who add their own subtle effects/styles.
The guitar of Alexander Naumov gives 'Living Without Frontiers' a
David Gilmour touch. On 'Project X' , the drums are done by Jim Dooley and the percussion loops by Achim Berens. Again, the Robert Fripp-sample is used. A pretty rhythmic and upbeat song.
The album (14 tracks) closes with the longest track of the album
'When She Turned Her Head'. The intro consists of a recording of a crowd at Union Station Portland Oregon. It is complemented with ambient drones and Rhodes by Tim Kahn.
Johan Troch has made an album that is a stunner in its genre.
It is a continuation of his previous release 'The Enlightened'.
This is enjoyable ambient that does not sound too vague or too strange, with a hopeful atmosphere.
Wim GUILLEMYN
04/03/2016 Peek-A-Boo-Magazine
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'The Enlightened'
released January 18, 2015
This musical centipede has written and produced everything himself.
He also plays the guitar parts and the atmospherics, while Eric Hopton does the synths. 'The Enlightened' is a very cinematic and ethereal album.
The music sometimes has a ‘new age’ kind of feeling, especially in the opener 'New Horizon', in which the female voice sings in an Enya style amidst an atmospheric sounds-cape. But let us not be blinded by this
‘new age’ hassle. And do not worry about the Enya thing either as this album has much more potential. On 'Nightly Peculiarities' you will find yourself somewhere in a secluded place like the savanna under a glittering starry sky surrounded by wildlife. 'Who Is It To Blame' starts with church bells, while a delicious bass line and guitar do the work. The tracks do not have traditional structures. It must be said that Johan Troch knows how to create soundscapes. On 'Disbelieve' the guitar is reminiscent to David Gilmour’s guitar play. In 'To Open Our Eyes' the drum are more important and diverse, although the whole album sounds homogeneous. Some might find this album too spicy, but lovers of quiet, instrumental music,
should definitely try out 'The Enlightened'.
https://johantroch1.bandcamp.com/album/the-enlightened
Wim Guillemyn 28/01/2015
song album
'When It's Gone'
released 20 February 2014
by Lory Fayer, 29 September 2014
The album consists of twelve pieces atmospheric, intimate.
They can remember the refined minimalism of David Sylvian or, of other composers of the more educated and research developed the first new wave, like Pieter Nooten with which he worked.
A work by listening, paying attention and opening the heart and mind, not a music to use as background while performing other tasks, in return you will be imbued with
fascinating, intense emotions.
In the tracks of this album every note is like a brushstroke that outlines moods and atmospheres, such as in a succession of glimpses of a profound journey, an inner journey during which feelings, dreams, thoughts, ideals are translated into music .
Everything is suffused: the rhythmic background and guitar melodies intertwine in a horse between shoegaze and post rock, to create environments melancholy, gently persuasive, over which hovers the voice, warm, deep, but never excessive.
“Beauty” and “The Prophecy”, the pieces that open the album, have the piano in the foreground, with a sung almost recited, that reminds me of the most intimate and melancholic pieces of Daniel Darc.
“When it’s over” is characterized by dreamy arpeggios, sometimes hypnotic and lysergic.
In “The Astronauts” dominates the piano again, this time accompanied by a dreamy and
evocative guitar.
“We’re living together” has sounds that you can bring those dreams created by Robin Guthrie, while “The garden of lovers” is the most rock piece, a slow ballad full of emotions
sweetly melancholic.
“Consultation” recalls the atmosphere of veiled soul And Also The Trees The Klaxon.
“We’re living our lives” has the style of the new wave of the early days: a rock very slow, faint and tinged sounds dreamy.
“Something good” has a rarefied atmosphere, somewhat remote and heavily melancholic.
“The Dawn of Day”, my favorite, is warm and enveloping, with echo effects that add emphasis to the atmosphere twilight; “Childhood” is slow with veins that are close to black music.
“Close to you” is a minimalist, as if the sounds they wanted to delineate the atmosphere for
the item in the foreground.
I can only conclude by inviting you to go on Bandcamp to listen to this artist and download this beautiful and engaging, which contains atmospheres and emotions.
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'Changes'
released February 20, 2012
I never heard the name of Johan Troch before, but nontheless has this Belgian ambient-soundtrack artist released four albums so far.
He recently worked with Pieter Nooten (the ex-bandmember from Clan Of Xymox
who is responsible for most of the tracks on Medusa) on his latest album Haven.
Changes is the debut album by Johan Troch.
After a very long time of media silence.
It features fourteen songs and the titles says enough about the spirit of his music;
Maginificent Earth, A New Day or Le Monde Est Ici are signs that we're
dealing with a real daydreamer.
All tracks are instrumental and the cosmic electronic songs have one thing in common:
they are all created to put you on some imaginery clouds. Most of the tracks are having the length of a perfect popsong (so that's three minutes), so you don't have to fear that it'll be too experimental.
There are also some nice droneguitars included which are of course influenced by Mr. Eno.
You might hear a touch of Richard Barbieri or Steve Jansen in it as well.
The most beautiful thing is that you can discover this album for free.
Just click here and you'll be directed to the spacey poppy atmospheres of Johan.
Do it, if you care about new sounds.
Didier BECU (peek a boo Music Magazine)
18/02/201