The Numb Project returns with “Dream,” a lush song that has many layers and is at home between genres. The Portland-based producer is gifted with creating beats that make your head nod in approval and destroy the norms. Once again, he demonstrates just how much he can populate soundscapes that are simultaneously grounded and otherworldly, immersive and intimately human.
“Dream” evokes late nights and dissolving memories with its mournful piano lines and understated shifts in rhythm. This is not an in-your-face piece but one that draws in the listener with its warm textures and introspective spirit. The tempo is far from what could be described as “tricky,” and it allows the mood to breathe, a soundtrack for the still of time.
“Dream” is reminiscent of Four Tet, Tycho and Boards of Canada but still sounds all Numb Project’s own. It's a combination of trip-hop, boom-bap, and IDM, but it never feels constrained by any particular genre. It's head and body music that makes you think and move, and each time you listen, something new pops out.
With the new song “Dream,” by the Numb Project, he’s added to his body of work in a way that only intensifies its allure. The single simply happens to underscore how committed he is to pushing forward musically even as he clings close to a voice that’s become unmistakably his. It’s atmospheric, soulful and instantly unforgettable (listen to it once or twice, and you’ll struggle not to relisten). It’s a reminder of why he remains Portland’s only electronic artist.