If you only know Jason Holstrom through his guitar playing and singing with myriad Seattle pop/rock bands—the Beach Boys-esque pop group Wonderful, the euphoria-peddling, electronic glam of U.S.E, or his twinkling electro-pop solo joint Tonight Sky—you may be surprised by his series of ambient albums he’s been releasing on Bandcamp this year. Under the name sunstrom sound, he’s marking the beginning of every season with digital full-lengths: Vernal came out in March (I wrote about it here), Estival in June, and Autumnal in September. As someone who listens to more ambient music than most people, I have to say, sunstrom sound’s output ranks among the very best in the region.
Autumnal aptly skews toward the melancholy end of the ambient spectrum, but Holstrom shows a preternatural gift for generating light, translucent compositions even as he casts a somber undertone to the eight tracks here. “Rainshade” is a standout—it’s one of the most subtly atmospheric, minimal-techno tracks I’ve ever heard; its faint aquatic heartbeat pulses making Wolfgang Voigt’s Gas material sound like a Speedy J-style banger. Unlike a lot of ambient music, sunstrom sound’s possesses an abundance of activity within each track. You can either drift to the beatific tones or engage your mind with the microbial sonic wriggling beneath the surface. Filmmakers, take note: This music is profoundly evocative and cinematic.
In other Holstrom news, he’s just joined the neo-R&B band Bardot (not to be confused with the New York band of the same name) as guitarist and backing vocalist. Bardot also feature U.S.E vocalists Carly Nicklaus and Amanda Okonek, as well as Amy Rockwell (the Catch), Nouela Johnston (People Eating People), Eric Howk (the Lashes), Michael Knight (Hand of the Hills), and Adrian Kolbo. Their first single, “Damelo,” is an ebullient party jam that’s not far off the strutting, glittery vibe of U.S.E in their midtempo mode. Bardot’s next show—which will be Holstrom’s debut with them—is October 17 at the Sunset Tavern.
