For their latest release, the 18-year-old Belgian producer lullaby (Sana) sculpted an immersive 35-minute auditory odyssey which offers a seamless plunge into introspection. despairing boy aspiring poet begins with an ambient trip-hop atmosphere that immediately sets a reflective and transcendent tone; as the release evolves, glitch-wave textures creep in, wrapping around the psyche before the calm is shattered by bass surges that arrive without warning, only to fade just as quickly.
The distorted, autotuned vocals amplify the emotive intensity as they caress the semi-lucid motifs that dominate the record which isn’t content to sit comfortably in one genre; evidenced by the post-hardcore instrumentals which disrupt the ambience, only to give way once more to sublime serenity.
Drawing inspiration from ambient music’s emotional depth and the raw energy of dubstep, lullaby juxtaposes atmospheric textures with evocative melodies, crafting tracks that resonate both cerebrally and viscerally. Their self-taught production skills are wholly exhibited as they push the boundaries of sound design, orchestrating contrasting textures into a wholly unique sonic identity.
With curveball after curveball, lullaby ensures the audience is never static, constantly shifting between serenity and chaos.
Stream despairing boy aspiring poet on SoundCloud now.
Review by Amelia Vandergast