The Fundamental Sound’s sophomore album is lo-fi and soulfully stripped back
Dan Klug, the man behind lo-fi jazz outfit, The Fundamental Sound, has just passed us his sophomore album, “Seconds,” and we’re pleased to share a preview of it with you here. The Fundamental Sound is Dan’s Brooklyn-based one-man-band that blends soul, funk, and jazz together in a pleasing stripped-back fashion. All of his music is written, performed and recorded in his amazingly minimal Brooklyn apartment (pictured above). I think every musician dreams of this sort of dedicated music space — its functionality and practicality has its own sort of beauty.
If you are not familiar with Dan’s sound, you should check out his 2022 album that pays homage to The Grateful Dead. It’s a 9 track album that re-interprets the dead through a lo-fi jazz lens. He restricted himself by keeping the production to a minimum with an arrangement of only drums, bass, and a Wurlitzer electric piano. After garnering some attention with Lofi Grateful Dead, Dan went on to release his self-titled debut album in 2023, The Fundamental Sound.
With Seconds, Dan takes The Fundamental Sound to a newfound groove. At the heart of the album is the Wurlitzer 200 — a timeless instrument that adds soulful warmth to every track. Each song is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, reflecting the artist’s obsession with perfecting every second of sound.
“This album is a reflection of the joy and obsession that come with being a music creator,” explains Klug when talking about recording Seconds. “I wanted to channel the same care and precision a chef puts into a meal, paying attention to every second of the music and obsessing over the smallest details because they matter to me. Even if they won’t get noticed by the listener.”
This sentiment is reflected in the title of the album; not only is it The Fundamental Sound’s second release, but it is also a culinary nod to a “second helping.”
The first track on the album, “Daydreamer,” picks you up and gets you walking with its lowkey melody that strolls along… almost as if to say to the bassline: “I can do this, but more casually than you can.” The next two tracks, “FG Boogie” and “Comfort Food,” take the listener back to a slower pace with a large helping of the blues. All 8 tracks on the album are filled with soul (thanks in large part to the Wurlitzer) and minimalism that is rarely seen in the genre nowadays. This is a great album to slip on for some soulful Sunday vibes.
Head over to The Fundamental Sound’s Bandcamp page to buy your copy of Seconds and support the project.
Cover photo courtesy of Dan Klug
