For Dutch artist Stefan Vincent, melancholy isn’t just an emotion—it’s a canvas for beauty. “Decay and loneliness can serve a purpose. Depression can teach you things. To feel deep sadness also means the ability to feel profound emotions,” he explains. Embracing this perspective, his debut album on MUSAR Recordings, “Post-Melancholy”, intricately navigates the complexities of melancholy. Drawing from breaks, electro, and IDM, Vincent crafts his most nuanced work yet, following notable releases on Token, Dynamic Reflection, Symbolism, and Non-Series.
“Post-Melancholy” captures the ebb and flow of melancholy, offering moments of light amid its shadows. The album opens with “Eyes Unclouded,” an acid-breaks track bursting with energetic acid lines and vibrant synths, setting a deceptive tone for what follows. Tracks like “Poise,” “Arpeggino,” and the contemplative “Yonghegong Lama Temple Exit F” provide respite, their lighter tones contrasting with the album’s heavier, bass-driven moments, yet they still evoke a profound emotional response.
Melancholy’s familiar associations emerge in tracks such as “Another Skin To Wear” and “You Know This Isn’t Going To End Well,” where IDM and the intricate rhythms of drum’n’bass foster a more foreboding atmosphere. “Another Skin To Wear,” named after a Radiohead lyric, mirrors the unpredictable nature of melancholy with its fluid, swooping movement. However, Vincent reserves the album’s most poignant moment for last. “8AM on the Train… (For Maarten)” is a heart-wrenching tribute to his late friend Maarten, who passed away at 36.
This LP is dedicated to Maarten de Vries (1986-2022).
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Post Melancholy is out now: https://stefanvincent.bandcamp.com/album/post-melancholy
