Indigenous Mix 3, by SAD MAN

SAD MAN is back at it again with a surreal collection of wonky tunes. Following in the footsteps of the artists Indigenous Mix series, this collection of 12 tracks explores electronic concepts often with an electroacoustic palette, with a heavy lean towards world music. Big beats and thick synths sit behind satisfying plucks on mysterious strings and pattering hand percussion. Chimes and bells swirl around the mix creating a jam circle atmosphere that is quite entrancing and relaxing. I am always impressed with SAD MAN’s ability to fuse dissonance with harmony, adding a unique layer in the flavor of experimental jazz. For fans of something out of the ordinary!

Indigenous Mix 2, by SAD MAN

After seriously enjoying SAD MANs release last month – UNTITLED ALBUM – I was very much looking forward to this smaller drop that was scheduled on his bandcamp to release June 3rd. What we’ve received is a beautiful 9-track “remix” project in which SAD MAN dives back into some select songs from his latest LP, revisiting the themes to provide entirely new interpretations!

As with his previous release, the songs dwell in the realm of true sonic exploration – where I felt his work was of a deconstructed nature, the vibe is even more potent on this latest project. The sounds more than ever appear to have been sliced out of the air, jumbled around on the floor, and crafted back together into some kind of mosaic masterpiece.

Lots of very satisfying sounds in here as well. I have found myself being lulled into a state of trust and relaxation, with wooden percussion rolling around me and buzzing squelching synths flying past my ears. This time around the Jazz vibes are bigger too – especially with tracks like “Ceep” which features some tender piano noodlings, or “Dog” which feels like an experimental open jazz session led by a slick pocket drummer on the kit.

Another highly recommended listen – digital edition is currently available for download via the artists Bandcamp page and is Pay what you Want! So don’t wait and grab yours today…

Untitled Album, by Sad Man

Experimental Electronic + Jazz musician SAD MAN presents us with an epic new release UNTITLED ALBUM, which dropped back at the beginning of May. This beefy 21 track epic is a true experiment in abstract electronics, with a heavy lean towards resonant glitches and deconstructed club sounds.

At times UNTITLED ALBUM steers into quite adventurous territories, adopting flavors from world music, IDM, glitch hop and more to create his own unique electronic flavor. The songs themselves are hearty meals, rarely dipping below 3 minutes in length, leaving plenty of time to explore sonic ideas and freely wander the landscape of sound.

SAD MAN music seems to lean heavily towards dissonant experimentation, with rhythms propelling the vibe forward at a steady tempo. Though the sounds used may not be stranger to club atmosphere, it is the way all the sounds are broken down – stripped to their essence, and repurposed in a way to tell an entirely different story. Grooves appear as quickly as they disappear – percussion being somewhat nebulous, sometimes held by some boom bap drums, other times being completely phased into crushed synths and chopped waveforms. A track can fly from footwork madness to lofi house vibes in a matter of moments, and yet it all works quite well, with SAD MAN never losing footing within each track.

On the whole, UNTITLED ALBUM is a damn good work of art. It’s a rewarding listen, the kind you enjoy time and time again, with and without headphones – at home, in the car, etc. Take it with you in life and see how it morphs the landscape around you – a premium vibe augmentation.

Really strong recommendation on this one – the best word I can use to describe the complete project is Therapeutic. Something about the nature of the sounds, the mystery of where each track leads, it all put me very much at ease. Even the sounds themselves – I often found myself feeling quite entranced, as if my mind was being massaged through the airwaves. Perhaps you will have the same experience, and I encourage you to give it a shot!

The album is available to stream and download via the artists Bandcamp page – as well as a Compact Disc edition (which I will likely pick up in the near future!). SAD MAN has a healthy discography on his bandcamp page too, and with a remix-album set to release tomorrow, anyone who enjoys ought to be excited…