Amongst a sea of worthy contenders for the title of Dancing Astronaut’s 2024 Album of the Year, one album stood tall above the rest: Tinlicker’s Cold Enough For Snow. The album, released February 16 via [PIAS] Électronique, embodies the high-caliber production for which the duo, comprised of Micah Heyboer and Jordi van Achthoven, have become known for. The LP’s sublime toplines, stylistic diversity, and international supporting tour — which was about “performing as a musician, not as a DJ,” they say — helped solidify the project’s Album of the Year candidacy. But Tinlicker’s bold decision to honor their creative instincts and embrace the risks of artistic evolution, culminating in an album that authentically expands their sound, ultimately cemented the nod. Indeed, “It has our soul, our DNA in it,” Micha Heyboer told Dancing Astronaut earlier this year.
Over the course of more than a decade, Tinlicker have consistently pushed boundaries in the world of house and techno, cultivating a sound that is both unique and distinct to them. Their use of real instruments, ranging from strings to keys to horns, has long been a staple of the project that helps to separate their sound from other, more traditional dance acts. Beyond the instrumentation, their music also has an unusual and powerful propensity to evoke an array of feelings, from euphoria to sadness, and everything in between. It’s music one can dance to, no doubt, but it’s also music that tells a compelling story.
Ahead of the album’s February 16 release, Tinlicker faced quite a bit of change; they left their long-time label, Anjunabeats, for [PIAS] Électronique and transitioned from exclusively performing DJ sets to a format that included live performances. These moves were risky but well-calculated, particularly for a duo that’s not only comfortable taking the road less traveled, but also saw these strategic choices as necessary next steps to realize the creative direction of their next album. The result is a masterclass of an album that balances innovation with quality.
What stands out most about Cold Enough For Snow is its sonic diversity. The album engages a variety of styles, from melodic (like “Slipstream” and “Staring Down Sunset”) to indie-electronic (“This Life” and “Nothing To Lose”), to clubbier, more techno-leaning instrumentals, such as “Blowfish” and “Revolution.” It even includes a track without their customary four-on-the-floor beats, “Strawberry.” Tinlicker produced the collaboration alongside Metropole Orkest, Netherlands-based jazz and pop orchestra with whom they performed to open Amsterdam Dance Event in 2023.
The vocalists on the album both complement Tinlinker’s production across the album and breathe further life into it. Frequent collaborator Nathan Nicholson graces three tracks, and esteemed singer-songwriters like Tom Smith, Brian Molko, and British band Circa Waves bring a refreshing, indie-rock flavor to the table not previously heard on Tinlicker’s prior LPs. Notably, Julia Church is featured twice on the album, and on two of its standout tracks (“Glasshouse” and “Slipstream”) nonetheless. And yet despite the album’s general — and welcome — stylistic diversity, Cold Enough For Snow still feels cohesive from start to finish.
In the months that followed the LP’s release, the Dutch duo hit the road for a headline tour across Europe and North America that featured a stop at CRSSD in San Diego. Tinlicker’s live show did the album justice, validating their decision to embrace the live format in a way they hadn’t before. It also helped to bring further life to its tracklist. The production pair ended the year by releasing a remix album with highlights that included an UNKLE reconstruction of “Glasshouse” and a club mix of “Slipstream.”
Above all else, Cold Enough For Snow demonstrated unparalleled ingenuity and ultimately serves as a testament to Tinlicker’s decade-plus commitment to push boundaries for the sake of art, and chase what they’re passionate about rather than choosing to blend in and play it safe.
“We don’t like living safe,” Heyboer also said. When it comes to making music, “there’s only one rule: we have to like it.”
With Cold Enough For Snow, there’s a whole lot to like.
Featured images: Jen Roman
Categories: Music
