Western Skies Motel – Trails – Album Review
by Killian Laher

Western Skies Motel is the project of Danish musician René Gonzalez Schelbeck. He has created several instrumental, mood-setting cinematic tracks, and this is his fourth album. It opens with the acoustic rumblings of Road, which sets the tone, with a lonely, faraway mood. Crestfallen electric pieces such as Stranded and All Is Gone are quite immersive.

Psalm and Windswept are more on the ambient side of things but the strongest pieces (Lullaby, Fountain) are in the mould of the opener.  Caravan features the most glorious, intricate guitar picking.  On the other hand, Nightfall is slightly disorientating with its warped, keyboards and mournful strings.

Black Desert is a true epic, you could imagine it soundtracking a western or a road movie.  It’s one of the more full-sounding pieces with drums, electric guitar and swirling keyboards.

While this album is not going to have the broadest appeal, this is very much grown-up guitar music.  And a soundtrack that will surely enhance your day-to-day.

Caravan