I just listened to the online stream of Sander Kleinenberg‘s new album, 5K, available here.
I was initially taken aback because it’s nothing like what I had expected. The artist behind “This is Ibiza” was supposed to release an album that was just as hard-hitting, right? It only made sense…
However, Sander has taken this one on a complete different course. The music starts off much more mellow and thought-provoking. It is a subtle blend of trip hop, 1980s pop (and theme music) and synthetic, electronic sounds reminiscent of today’s EDM. The beats per minute are lower than standard EDM; I would even go as far as saying that the 5K album works well as ambient music for reading, working, or just curling up by the fireplace with a cup of something wonderful on a cold evening!
Then the middle portion hits. “The Healer”, “The Journey” and “M.A.N.I.A.C” maintain the retro feel while providing dance floor-worthy thump. “M.A.N.I.A.C” is an especially brilliant piece and is probably my favourite track in the album.
The rest of the songs are much more…progressive? Acidic? Whatever the adjectives used to describe them, the songs capture a sense of experimentation. One gets the feeling that 5K was an extremely carefully arranged album. The attention to detail is apparent; the listener’s mood is taken on a poetic journey.
Overall, 5K is a breakthrough for Sander because it shows his versatility and ability to narrate a story through the choice and sequence of tracks. Great work!
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I’m so interested in becoming a DJ and I’m inspired by such inspirational examples such as Kleinenberg whom I like very much. I’m waiting impatiently to attend Ultra Music Festival next month.
Thanks for your comment! Sorry for the delay in responding.
Indeed, Sander is a great artist. He is a visionary within and outside the electronic dance music scene and I think he commands an incredibly high level of respect from his peers and the audience simply because he is so groundbreaking.