I can’t believe that it’s been two whole weeks since San Holo dropped his debut album and I’m only writing about it now. But better late than never, right?
For those who don’t know, San Holo is the stage name of Dutch DJ/producer/guitarist Sander van Dijck, who exploded onto the EDM scene back in 2014 with his remix of Dr. Dre’s "The Next Episode." He’s been a household name for electronic music lovers since then, releasing dreamy singles and EPs here and there, but continuously pushing the envelope with his creative and innovative spin on future bass sounds. It’s hard to believe this is his first album, but the wait was worth it for this equally fresh yet nostalgic, polished yet lo-fi gem of a record.
The wobbly guitar in the intro almost feels like I’m listening to a mixtape a friend made me on a boombox. There’s something warm and nostalgic about his soundscapes that feels so familiar and comforting. It sounds like getting lost in your thoughts on a nice day, or that sentimental feeling you sometimes get when you’re looking down on a city from the window of an airplane. Who knew that electronic music could be so introspective? It’s hard to believe this is the same guy behind that “The Next Episode” remix. But maybe that’s a testament to San Holo’s ability to continuously adapt and mature with the times.
I’m not sure what we did to deserve this thoughtful and magical daydream of an album, but what I can tell you that San Holo is coming right for our heartstrings with this one.
album1 is out now via bitbird. Listen to it here.
SIMILAR SONGS
