Born in the USA, this one-man band is one of the most prolific in terms of album releases. Since formation in 2014, composer Damián Antón Ojeda has released 22 albums, and this is the first of three that was released in August of 2024. “bury your kiss in me” is first. Gentle, melodic guitars open the song, with backing atmosphere, and it straddles the line carefully between hope and despair. It becomes energized with the addition of a fast moving riff, and the melodies remain. It reminds me of the excitement of your first kiss from someone you have admired for a long time. The sounds drops around the half-way mark to more of those gentle tones from the beginning, and the reprise of the energetic sound is marred with heavy emotions. “pink clouds” has another very pretty melody line. It takes me back to summer vacations at the shore with my family, and being on a high for weeks that followed. The melody is simple, but sometimes that minimalist approach can stick in your head, as this one does.

“lowsun bridge” is another beautiful song, and I find myself wondering where all these melodies come from. In a way, I don’t really want to know however, as some mysteries are better left that way. The clean guitar melody is augmented with a rousing riff and vocals, and the children’s voices give the song an innocence. The song has a longing quality to it that seems to permeate every cell in your body, and leave you aching for more.  “spring flashes” reminds me of that magical time when the winds shift and the first warm day of the season rolls around after long, cold winter. Everything seems right in your world, and nothing can shake that high. The song has positive, rousing tones from the riff and vocals, and even the solemn tones in the middle are blotted out by the sun.

“please don’t let go” closes the album. For me, it about the will to carry on. We all have burdens in life, but we can’t let them win. He pleads, “don’t let go, don’t let go,” and even though you can feel it slipping between your fingers, you hold on with everything that you have. What’s remarkable about the album is that even when the music slows down or explores more pensive themes, it never loses sight of the brighter horizon. The band’s name, SADNESS, feels almost ironic, as the album consistently brings a sense of optimism. It’s a reminder that sadness is just one aspect of the human experience and that, ultimately, the album leans into positivity and hopefulness. Throughout, the sound invites listeners to reflect, but never to despair—making the experience as inspiring as it is soothing.