Personal Trainer – Still Willing

Label: Bella Union
Released: 2nd August 2024

Personal Trainer’s second effort, ‘Still Willing’ is a vibrant tapestry of sound that showcases the Amsterdam-based collective’s knack for musical exploration. At its core, it’s an exercise in artful chaos, weaving together threads of indie pop, dream pop, avant-funk, and noise rock into something surprisingly cohesive. 

‘Upper Ferntree Gully’ stands out as the album’s centrepiece, an epic journey that meanders from dreamy pop landscapes to grungy noise terrains with the confidence of a seasoned tour guide. On the flip side, ‘Round’ delivers a more straightforward punch, proving that Personal Trainer can craft an earworm when the mood strikes. It’s this versatility that keeps listeners on their toes, never quite sure what’s coming next but eager to find out.

This second outing shows Personal Trainer flexing new muscles while retaining the spontaneous energy that made their debut so captivating. They’ve honed their songwriting chops and tightened their production, resulting in an album that feels both polished and delightfully unpredictable. While ‘Still Willing’ might not rewrite the rulebook, it certainly scribbles some intriguing notes in the margins. Personal Trainer are only getting fitter.