Sassy 009 – Dreamer+ (Heaven-Sent/PIAS) (13th Floor Album Review)
Dreamer+ is the new album from Oslo producer and musician, Sassy 009. This concept-album’s runtime is packed with a variety of beats, synths and dark melodies, straying into the genres of grunge and shoegaze.
Sassy 009, vocalist Sunniva Lindgård’s original Soundcloud username, began as a trio with their first EP Do You Mind in 2017. Nearly a decade later (and minus two of the members), Lindgård returns with her third, and latest, outing. Dreamer+ comes as a concept-driven album, strung together over nearly four years of studio recording. While it’s promoted as an album of self-discovery, there are plenty of special guests making appearances. Blood Orange being a big draw on the lead single Tell Me.
The concept? Well, it’s not exactly spelled out for you (at least it wasn’t for me). I’ll paraphrase what I read in the press release. Lindgård is the main character who is thrust into an abandoned town (which doubles as a grim fairy-tale world) on a mission. Oh, and there’s a love interest who carks it at the end. Take what you will from this. After reading about this, I’m still not sure I have picked up on the subtleties of the narrative within the lyrics.
The LP starts its engines (and I mean that literally, it starts to the sound of a car revving) to the opener Butterflies. You’re going to be greeted by an array of synths (including that bass synth that sounds like someone moaning) and, of course, Lindgård’s effected voice. This track, and pretty much everything that comes afterwards has devoted quite a lot of attention to making the drum beats fairly diverse. Now, I’m calling drum machines! But, for all I know there could be the real deal beneath all of the compression used. Regardless, it’s the aspect of the Dreamer+ which piqued my interest.
While it is boasted as being inspired by a various range of music, I personally found Dreamer+ a mix of two albums. One part felt like a sporadic beat or electronica music. Some of these, are pleasing snippets, including RIP Time and Thought; a short interlude between songs. Others, are overwhelmed with synths or vocals saturated in effects that can be a bit harsh on the senses.
The other half, the songs Tell Me and My Candle felt like broody music that would sit well as the soundtrack to a later 90s or an early 2000s action/thriller movie. Picture Jason Bourne, or perhaps a lesser-known character (maybe Clive Owen, when he’s in that movie where his character is good at shooting and eats all those carrots!), discreetly tracking his antagonist down a busy winter street. This was certainly part that I favoured. The rock influence in the song writing that is present is angsty and blends well with the electronica.
And if you’re not interested in big beats and synths, the album ended (quite surprisingly) with the piano ballad Ruins of a Lost Memory. The voice that was so aggressive, now sounds like a hall-reverbed Kate Bush. A small voiceover brings home the narrative – if you were following it, climaxing with some loud synth sounds (just because!).
Dreamer+ is an album that boasts an extensive palate of drums that paints a suitable backdrop for Sassy 009 to croon her distorted tale (with added distortion effecting her voice). There are moody, dark and enjoyable moments. You just might need to be prepared to be overwhelmed at points by an overload of synth.
Daniel Edmonds
Dreamer+ by Sassy 009
is out January 16, 2026 on HEAVEN-SENT / [PIAS]
Pre-save: https://
