Daniel Mountain – “Year One”

Daniel Mountain’s debut album, “Year One”, is an impressive start for someone who only began producing a year ago. He’s based out of the Blue Mountains near Sydney and you can tell he’s poured himself into this project. The fact that he played every instrument, produced, mixed, and mastered the whole thing himself gives the album a personal touch that’s hard to fake. You can hear pieces of his background in punk, metal, and indie blending into this instrumental electronic hip-hop vibe, and it works in a way that feels fresh without being overthought. From “Diecast Champion” to “Cooked Ibis”, you will find your slef transported to Daniel’s universe.

The variety across the 14 tracks really stood out to me, it’s not one of those records where everything sounds the same, he moves from breakbeat-heavy hip-hop ideas to more experimental stuff, then drops into lo-fi grooves with horns and even throws in some heavy guitar moments. The use of samples, from 70’s jazz to Japanese folk songs and field recordings, keeps things interesting without feeling gimmicky. If I had to pick just ones favorite track that I repeated many times, that would definitely be “Old Man and the Sea”.

To be honest, “Year One” is worth a listen if you’re into instrumental music that’s got character and doesn’t box itself in. Keep an eye on Daniel Mountain’s socials; it’ll be interesting to see where Daniel takes things in the rest of 2025.