Spanish DJ Marc Martinez Nadal, better known as AFFKT, transcends boundaries of genre with the electrifying synths and energizing groove of his much anticipated sophomore LP Son of a Thousand Sounds. This colorful album is reminiscent of the soundtrack for the movie Drive with Ryan Gosling, as it takes you on an engaging journey of stimulation.
A contagious energy is born with the first three songs, establishing a dance floor beat with tropical house infusions on which AFFKT later builds with increasingly complex notes like the snare drums of the track “Boira.” The sparkling sound in the first few moments of the track “San Diego” electrify the album with a similar beginning to Flume’s recent track “Never Be Like You,” an awe-inspiring final moment of realization. By slowing down the melody on “Between Us” directly after, the song embodies the title; the dissonance in the bass uncovers underlying tension and makes the album more complex.
The album’s first single “The Show” features vocals from Sutja Gutierrez of The Fruhstucks and establishes a Tron-like sound – tension that’s released with the warm final track “Esclafit feat. Piek.” AFFKT cultivates a distinctive sound, so it’s only fitting that “Son of a Thousand Sounds” was released on his own imprint, Sincopat. The artist also has releases on a multitude of other labels, including Suara, NM2, Exploited, Kittball, and Kling Klong, but this album serves as a departure from any sound that’s not explicitly AFFKT.
Son of a Thousand Sounds successfully blends sub-genres of electronic music like techno and house, adding depth to the music with unlikely sound combinations. AFFKT blends these unusual sounds to generate a unique energy, creating art out of tension and discord. Whether AFFKT is contemplative, anxious, or elated, the artist translates these emotions into sound on this satisfying album.
Son of A Thousand Sounds is out now.
