Madrid-based musical project The Kiss That Took A Trip has occupied a distinctive space between experimentation and accessibility for nearly twenty years. Created by M.D. Trello in 2006, the solo project has evolved from ambient post-rock soundscapes into a broad catalogue that draws from alternative rock, electronica, chamber pop, progressive music and atmospheric songwriting.
That journey is now documented in Thirty In Twenty: The Collection, a 30-track retrospective marking the The Kiss That Took A Trip’s 20th anniversary. More than a greatest-hits package, the double album serves as a chronological overview of Trello’s creative evolution, tracing the path from the project’s early instrumental and experimental recordings to its later, more song-oriented material.
Listeners unfamiliar with The Kiss That Took A Trip may find the collection’s stylistic diversity one of its most defining characteristics. Across the compilation, ambient textures sit comfortably alongside alternative pop melodies, electronic production, post-rock crescendos and orchestral flourishes. While the influences are varied, the music consistently prioritizes atmosphere, mood and melody over technical showmanship.
The project’s earliest breakthrough came with 2012’s How The Mighty Have Fallen, an album that established a recognizable artistic identity through sprawling compositions, ambient passages and a distinctly introspective tone. Subsequent releases such as Electroforest (2014) and Electroforest (By Night) (2015) introduced a stronger melodic focus and more prominent vocal performances while maintaining the expansive arrangements that had become a hallmark of the project.
Over the years, Trello continued to experiment with format and structure. Releases such as Punk Cathedral (2017) and the Garlands EP explored a wider range of styles, from acoustic balladry to electronic pop and post-rock. Following a pandemic-era hiatus, The Kiss That Took A Trip returned with the Hold Music EP in 2023 before releasing the ambitious album Victims of the Avantgarde and the experimental companion EP Horror Vacui.
The new compilation includes three previously unreleased tracks: “We Are What We Protect,” “Forevermore” and “Mimosa”, as well as remastered catalogue selections, reworked older material and remixes. The inclusion of new songs helps prevent the collection from feeling purely archival, while the remastered tracks provide a more cohesive listening experience across material originally recorded years apart.
Among the new additions, “We Are What We Protect” stands out as a reflective piano-driven piece that examines the passage of time and serves as an appropriate thematic introduction to an anniversary project. The forthcoming single “Forevermore” continues the project’s tradition of blending melodic songwriting with atmospheric production.
What ultimately distinguishes The Kiss That Took A Trip is an unwavering commitment to independence. Trello has long embraced a DIY approach, releasing music under Creative Commons licensing, maintaining complete creative control and avoiding many of the conventional expectations associated with modern music promotion. The project remains studio-based, with no live performances and little emphasis on commercial visibility.
That philosophy is reflected throughout Thirty In Twenty: The Collection. Rather than chasing trends, the compilation presents a body of work built gradually over twenty years, offering listeners a chance to explore a catalogue that values immersion, experimentation and long-term artistic development. Whether experienced as an introduction for new listeners or a retrospective for longtime followers, the collection provides a comprehensive portrait of an artist who has consistently followed his own creative path.
www.thekissthattookatrip.com
Nadia Elkharadly