Juan Dahmen - 2025 - Ad Astra

(73:09; Iapetus)






















Sonically one might expect this album to have been recorded with keyboards and for the composer to be working with a strict score and then tracking more and more layers to create something which is incredibly deep. However, what actually happened was Juan Dahmen in the studio with a Touch Guitar U10, pedals and looper, composing and performing live. This is an album where sounds are elongated, and it definitely makes one think of the infinity of space, as if we are on a journey to the stars (I was playing this in the car the other day and my wife asked if we were at risk of being abducted by aliens, and I had told her nothing about this).

Although one may argue this is mostly ambient, it also has a great deal going for it within the space rock community, and if someone had told me that Dr. Space (Scott Heller) had been involved then I would not have been surprised, but although it may seem that Juan has been listening to a great deal of Øresund Space Collective he is creating the music very much in his own way. Most of the releases I received from Iapetus can take some work to get through the first time, with their inner beauty only becoming truly apparent after multiple plays, but I must confess this album spoke to me from the first few notes of the very first track, and I was soon deep inside the world being created, marvelling at the Milky Way and all its splendours. I am fortunate enough to live in NZ with dark skies, and last night I was looking up at Jupiter while listening to this, a truly wonderful experience. I look forward to hearing a great deal more from Juan. 

Kev Rowland, March 2026

Links:
https://juandahmen.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/iapetusstore

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