Sassy 009 – ‘Dreamer+’ Review: Hypnotic Alt-Pop That Dives Deep into the Unconscious

Explore the chilling, distorted alt-pop soundscapes of Sassy 009’s ‘Dreamer+’, a fearless journey into the dream world and the psyche.

A Frosty Oslo Night Sets the Stage for Dreamer+

If you’ve ever experienced those long, dark Oslo winters, you know how the short days can wrap you in a quiet, reflective chill. Sunniva Lindgård, the mind behind Sassy 009, channeled this exact atmosphere in her debut album Dreamer+, released in January 2025. Nearly a decade after stepping into the spotlight as Sassy 009, Lindgård’s latest work feels like a crisp gust of icy air — sharp, mesmerizing, and hauntingly beautiful.

The album took four years to craft, and the results reflect a sonic world that’s both ethereal and murky, a striking departure from her earlier bubblegum synth-pop vibe. It’s like stepping into a lucid dream where everything feels just out of reach.

From Bright Synths to a Shadowed Dreamscape

Lindgård’s journey to Dreamer+ wasn’t linear. Back in 2017, her debut single ‘Pretty Baby’ teased a bubbly synth-pop future, with pulsating beats and playful melodies. By 2021, tracks like ‘Mystery Boy’ and the mixtape Heart Ego positioned her right next to alt-pop contemporaries like Biig Piig and Laurel — artists you’d want on any indie dancefloor.

But Dreamer+ purposefully diverges from this earlier, sunnier vibe. “I wanted to step away from the hunky-dory world of Heart Ego,” Lindgård revealed in a recent interview. Here, the music feels darker, more introspective, yet it never loses its hypnotic pull.

The standout track ‘Someone’ perfectly captures this tension — it’s danceable but charged with an edge that holds you at knifepoint, teetering between reality and a hazy dream state. Listening to it, you can almost feel the album's inherent fragility, like walking a tightrope between wakefulness and slumber.

A Visual Dive: ‘Tell Me’ Featuring Blood Orange

Speaking of hypnotic vibes, the collaboration with Blood Orange on ‘Tell Me’ is a shimmering highlight. The track drifts with moody synths and a cool, detached vocal delivery that perfectly encapsulates the album’s chilly undercurrents.

It’s a sonic landscape that feels like wandering through a winter forest where every sound echoes your own thoughts and feelings, amplified and distorted.

Dreaming in Shadows: Emotional Depth and Ambiguity

What I find deeply compelling about Dreamer+ is its embrace of uncertainty. There’s no clear resolution or easy comfort here. Take ‘Enemy’, where Lindgård wonders if she’ll “wander this land forever / chasing the unimaginable.” It’s a haunting refrain, a reflection on feeling trapped in a world that feels both beautiful and isolating.

Even the ’80s-inspired ‘Mirrors’ wraps you in an unsettling haze, while ‘In The Snow’ echoes numbness and quiet desperation. These tracks aren’t just songs; they’re emotional exorcisms, spaces where Lindgård processes complex feelings without forcing neat answers.

Breaking Boundaries: Shoegaze and Alt-Rock Flavors

Lindgård doesn’t limit herself to pure alt-pop either. Sprinkled throughout Dreamer+ are bursts of shoegaze and alt-rock that bring a rawer muscle to the mix. Tracks like ‘My Candle’ and ‘Enemy’ surprise with layered guitars and fuzzy textures, adding weight to the album’s dreamlike atmosphere.

That said, not every experiment lands perfectly. The opener ‘Butterflies’ sometimes feels a bit too aggressive with its vocal distortions and motorbike revs, almost clashing with its lyrical imagery of “heaven is close enough.” These moments create a patchiness that occasionally interrupts the album’s flow.

Summing Up: A Courageous, Complex Dream World

Despite its slight unevenness, Dreamer+ is a stunning debut that proves Sunniva Lindgård’s evolution as a producer, songwriter, and vocalist. It’s not about repeating the success of her earlier work but about building a new sonic world that’s layered, brave, and deeply personal.

From the shimmering synths to the gritty alt-rock edges, Dreamer+ invites listeners to lose themselves in a mysterious dream state where emotions are raw, and boundaries blur.

Album Details

• Label: Heaven-Sent/PIAS
• Release Date: January 16, 2025

Ready to Dream With Sassy 009?

If you’re craving an album that’s as hypnotic as it is emotionally complex, Dreamer+ is a must-listen. It’s more than just alt-pop; it’s a soundscape of the subconscious, wrapped in icy textures and shimmering melodies. Let yourself wander through this sonic dreamland—just don’t be surprised if you come out feeling a little changed.

FAQ

• What genre does Sassy 009’s Dreamer+ fall into?
  The album blends alt-pop with elements of shoegaze, alt-rock, and ’80s synth influences, creating a layered and hypnotic sound.
• How long did it take to make Dreamer+?
  Sunniva Lindgård spent about four years crafting this album, refining its dreamlike, icy atmosphere.
• Is Dreamer+ a solo project?
  Yes, since 2019 Lindgård has been steering Sassy 009 as a solo artist, though it initially started with bandmates.
• Who collaborated with Sassy 009 on this album?
  Blood Orange features on the track ‘Tell Me,’ adding a cool, moody vibe to the album’s sound.
• What’s a standout track to start with?
  ‘Someone’ is often highlighted for its danceable yet tension-filled energy, making it a perfect introduction.

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