The Daily Spin II

Mansionair | Shadowboxer

Welcome back to the Daily Spin. For the uninitiated, this is the series in which I review an album every day of 2025.

As was the case two years ago, my favorite song from each album can be found at the playlist linked here.

Album: Shadowboxer (2019)

Artist: Mansionair

Link:

File Mansionair under the group of acts that I just don’t really get.

I want to like this a lot, I really do - but so often, I’m just left bored. Despite my affinity for trance, for indie, for electronica, and for the music that generally sits at the crossroads of the three aforementioned genres - and yet, this does absolutely nothing for me.

There are bright spots, and it’s not hard to see why people enjoy this. There’s a really pleasant sort of grooving undertone here that, in higher moments, plays super nicely with the attitude this album curates, a heady sort of post-punk influenced take on electronica.

Most of the time, though, these spaces are left to wilt, unfortunately. Songs are underdeveloped in the name of big-room house, and that just doesn’t vibe with the intricate sensibilities that the band tries to develop. Unfortunately, this one pulls too many punches to work in the long term.

Rating: 6/10

Best Tracks: Heartbeat

Worst Tracks: Sierra