Gesaffelstein Returns with Bruising Beauty on GAMMA

French electronic music icon Gesaffelstein unveils his long-awaited full-length, GAMMA, a potent blend of vulnerability and sonic brutality. Marking his first album in five years since the critically acclaimed Hyperion, GAMMA showcases Gesaffelstein’s mastery of forging emotional depth within a meticulously crafted soundscape.

Across the album’s 11 tracks, Gesaffelstein paints a picture of a world teetering on the edge. Opening track “Digital slaves” sets the tone, a darkly pulsating anthem that feels like a desperate cry in the face of impending technological domination. Gesaffelstein’s signature use of glitching basslines and industrial textures creates a sense of unease that permeates the entire album.

However, beneath the harsh exterior lies a glimmer of humanity. Moments of melancholic beauty surface throughout GAMMA. “The perfect” throws listeners into a sonic sensory deprivation chamber, Gesaffelstein’s distorted vocals floating atop a relentless beat, creating a strangely hypnotic effect. The haunting ambient coda of “Emet” brings the album to a close, a moment of quiet reflection amidst the chaos.

The album’s title track itself embodies this duality. “GAMMA” is a sonic demolition project, a deconstruction of the sleek, chrome-plated monument that was Hyperion. Anguished vocals writhe in a twisted dance with the distorted soundscapes, a visceral portrayal of a world breaking apart.

Gesaffelstein’s virtuosic control over texture and timbre is on full display throughout GAMMA. He masterfully blends the alien and familiar, crafting sounds that feel both unsettling and strangely inviting. “Psycho” exemplifies this approach, a claustrophobic banger that wouldn’t be out of place in a horror film soundtrack, yet somehow manages to maintain a strangely danceable groove.

GAMMA is a challenging listen, a brutally honest exploration of the darkness and vulnerability that lie within the human condition. But for those willing to confront it, the album offers a deeply rewarding experience, a demonstration of Gesaffelstein’s enduring position as one of electronic music’s most innovative and thought-provoking artists.