Progressive breaks, electro vibes, great flow, head nodding steadily.
Framewerk – Lotus Land
Martin Stürtzer – Protostar
First off, this is a great ambient record. This has been my go-to focus music for the past week the mindset it creates for me is just awesome.
On the other hand, one feeling I can’t shake off is how much of a generated music this could potentially be. I really don’t know anything about Stürtzer, his past work, and process, I just feel like music like this could exactly be the type that can be generated by AI today. I feel bad to think this, it feels like such an asshole thought to have, but this is just what the ambient genre is plagued with today. And if I look at an artist’s discography and I see several records published yearly that kind of confirms the idea; either that this is generated music or music that’s produced on a conveyor belt.
And after having these ideas at the back of my mind I’m going back to listening to the record and think: I still like it, I find it pleasant to listen to, it helps me focus and work and create stuff. So what does that mean? What if this is generated music really? Am I happy with generated music? No, I shouldn’t be. I want to value a true artist’s human output and genuine creativity. But still… What if this just works? Ahh, I don’t know. I hate the AI generated problems of our lives when it comes to art.
Lone – Always Inside Your Head
Ambient breakbeat, chill-out, ethereal drum and bass, wondering jungle.
Terminal Serious – Tear You Away
Post-rock goth vibes with that classic deep male voice. My only complaint is the drums, which falls in that uncanny valley of not being played live, but mimic that just too closely while not getting there. Something that sounds more like classic programmed drums would work better, or just playing the whole thing with a live band would as well, of course.
Top of 2024
This one got left behind. I compiled the lists at the beginning of 2025, but never ended up posting it, so here it goes. Like always, not everything was released in 2024 (or most were not, rather); this is a list of things that I consumed and liked most during the year.
My top albums in 2024
My top genres in 2024
My top music event in 2024
My top movies in 2024
My top series in 2024
My top video game in 2024
Duster (2025)
This was such a huge surprise. The trailer got to me, I felt something special about it already, but I was unsure what it will be about, really. Turns out, the story was straightforward enough without any major twists, but it was still a good story with enough to be engaged with. The whole series was just dripping with the styles of the ’70s: fine cars, great music, amazing fashion. I loved many of the characters, like Rachel Hilson being cool and badass, Josh Holloway being charming and easy, or Asivak Koostachin being smart and an underdog. Special shout-out for the title sequence: I didn’t skip it for one episode, just kept smiling all the way through and tried to find a new piece of detail every time. Too bad this gem got an early slashing; so I can keep it as a memory of a fantastic limited series.
Nine Inch Nails – Tron: Ares OST
There are a few nice tracks and hooks, but overall it’s not a king slayer in the realm of NIN soundtracks. Its biggest merit is to get something new that has NIN on it.
The Black Dog – My Brutal Life 2
An ambient ode to cities made of concrete.
Katatonia – Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State
Melancholic prog metal. Beautiful moody music.
The Beths – Straight Line Was A Lie
The friendly alternative rock band in the neighborhood that you hear over as they are rehearsing in the garage. It’s low-fi, relatable, and genuine.