Tenured, innovative French producer Gesaffelstein teases his upcoming album Gamma with the lead single “Hard dreams” featuring Yan Wagner. From the late 2000s to the present day, Gesaffelstein has built a recognizable discography, always immersing the listener in his futuristic, robotic soundscape. Gesaffelstein has conquered many genres, from alt-rap to acid-techno, to lounge and in-between. “Hard dreams” is a synth-wave journey for the ears.
What makes the song notable is the fact that it is a collaboration. While Gesaffelstein’s body of work includes features (such as Pharrell Williams and HAIM), they are infrequent and purposeful. Most of his music is simply him and his musical genius. Yan Wagner does not only grace this track, but all 11 tracks of the upcoming Gamma. He is another French artist who came onto the music scene shortly after Gesaffelstein. His deep, resonating vocals add an unexpected, nostalgic 80s-style flair to “Hard dreams,” increasing the allure and mystery of the track.
A siren-like synth loop, one of Gesaffelstein’s signatures since his 2013 track “Hellifornia”, starts the song. It is both unnerving and mesmerizing. The bass line is crunchy and abrasive in the best way. The accompanying percussion has an extraterrestrial tone, echoing the dream concept. Yan Wagner tells a story of romantic illusions, singing
I see your face on the video screen
I’m your slave and you’re my queen
I picture ourselves in a Hollywood dream
Yan Wagner, Gesaffelstein, “Hard dreams”
For those unfamiliar with Gesaffelstein’s solo projects, “Hard dreams” offers his most modern ideas, packaged into a groovy industrial dance track. But many, whether they know it or not, have heard his work as a producer. One example is in The Weeknd’s 2018 Album My Dear Melancholy, which contains the track “I Was Never There,” currently at over 930 million streams. That dark siren sliding up and down over the beat? Gesaffelstein.
Needless to say, he is someone with undeniable skill and range. Aside from “Hard dreams,” the upcoming album also contains intriguing titles such as “Digital slaves,” “The urge,” and “Tyranny.”
Cyber-chic and sophisticated, stream “Hard dreams” now on Spotify and Apple Music.
Also, pre-save Gamma to be one of the first listeners.
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