GENRE; Pop/R&B
LABEL; PIAS/ Heaven-Sent
RATING; 7.4
Dreamer+ marks a bold and evocative debut full‑length from Oslo’s Sassy 009 (the solo project of Sunniva Lindgård), a record that blurs the boundaries between alt‑pop, dream‑like soundscapes, and experimental electronica. Steeped in icy atmospheres and glitchy textures, the album unfolds like a surreal narrative — a dream‑world where emotions and sonic textures are in constant flux.
From the tense opener “Butterflies” — with its revving motorcycles and fractured vocals — to the hypnotic pulse of “Someone”, Lindgård crafts a world that feels both intimate and disorienting. Tracks like “Edges” and “In the Snow” highlight her willingness to push her sound into darker, more introspective terrain, mixing shoegaze grit with clouded synth patterns and fractured vocals that drift like fog.
Collaborations add depth without detracting from the album’s core vision: Blood Orange’s guest vocals on “Tell Me” swirl gently into the mist, while BEA1991’s presence on “Sleepwalker’s Pendulum” brings a tender counterpoint to Lindgård’s spectral delivery.
Thematically, Dreamer+ leans into its concept of a dreamlike journey — one colored by longing, self‑reflection, and emotional ambiguity. Critics have praised its ambition and production, resulting in generally favorable marks (Metacritic score ~75), even while noting moments where the hazy aesthetic sometimes causes songs to drift indistinctly.
Fan responses reflect this duality: some celebrate the album’s lush, enveloping moods as a highlight of the year so far, while others find its lack of conventional hooks makes it feel elusive.
Overall, Dreamer+ is a striking statement — an emotionally rich, genre‑fluid exploration that invites listeners to wander through its sonic dreamscape and lose themselves in its shifting, often beautiful mysteries.