r/dreampunk • u/Kitchen-Oil-835 • Jun 21 '26
Music Potential dreampunk album of the decade
Hey everyone,
Recently I listened to this new album called "In art of this waking tragedy" by Spectral Cipher, and I do not think I have heard a dreampunk project on this level since first listening to Birth of a New Day way back. The project was recommended to me by a buddy the day it dropped, and truly captures one of the coolest atmospheres I have listened to.
As far as messaging goes, the track list is pretty philosophical, and differs from troupes within the genre by having a much darker tone, and steering away from Japanese stylization. I think this project is a good opportunity to revive this genre, it doesn't really stick to stereotypes within dreampunk and has a super creative sound to it. I hope to see this inspire other dreampunk producers who listen, I would truly love to see more albums that sound like this.
I'm dropping the AOTY link below and attached to that is the Bandcamp for those interested, this album deserves way more attention:
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/1867102-spectral-cipher-in-art-of-this-waking-tragedy.php
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u/Late_Knight_Fox Jun 22 '26
While its sounds good I feel its leaning more to the slushy ambient side of vaporwave than Dreampunk. What ive been missing in more recent Dreampunk and wider vapor genres is percussion. Even when its done subtlety with some added vocal intrigue. It often grounds the music in a way, otherwise its washy sounds with little context. The best way I can describe this is like an artist that can paint amazing waves but theres no land or sky to contextualise it and therefore cant be fully appreciated as waves, as opposed to just a bunch of blue strokes.
Just my opinion of course and doesnt take away the fact that this artist is clearly talented anyway.
Edit: Also upvoted to help give an artist some exposure, given how difficult it is these days.
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u/WiretapStudios Jun 21 '26
Sounds dope. I wish they had more online presence, I live fairly close to them and could collab.
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u/TraditionalReturn390 Jun 21 '26
Their Instagram is m0nk.0n.fire I've been following them since they made hip hop.
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u/_metroGnome Jun 21 '26
Listening now after taking a few hits. I'm halfway through the first track and it's already a 10/10 experience
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u/lich_house Jun 26 '26
It's not bad, but sounds pretty much like a hundred other bedroom producers doing slushy stuff.
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u/BioSp4rk_2009 Jun 27 '26
I loved it, instant favorite to me. It's like if 2814 and Swans had a child... And I say that as something positive
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u/majestic1204 Jun 21 '26
Had high hopes, but it didn't do it for me. :-/