Release Date: 19 January 2026
Song Count: 9
Duration: 23 minutes, 13 seconds
Rating: 6.7/10
Description:
It seems that the wave of previously covered artists returning doesn't stop there, because five months after the release of Sundae Wuz' previous highly experimental album, we're greeted by another new release just under a week prior to reviewing, marketed perhaps light-heartedly as "the ultimate summer dance mixtape for the ages". Already in the books as a niche yet highly independent figure down to play around with anything and everything to create truly unique electronic music, Wuz has emerged once more with jam26 and the deadly sun destroyers!, an album going even further beyond to cement that reputation than everything else that has preceded it - already a bar in the skies for the Australian producer.
The mostly unpercussioned tunes of DONK QUEST are long left behind as this new record on the block goes all in on the instrumentation, still containing some highly digital, chiptune-esque elements but primarily taking on structural inspiration from house music in its rawest and least decorated form. Nevertheless, it retains the former's highly risk-taking nature in terms of general approach to music through the combination of some atmospheric work and melodicism with the extremities of the rhythms and drums that either find themselves entirely absent or, in this case, take center stage. It is pretty much as experimental as such music can get and far from predictable in any fashion, working with some of the most unorthodox beats possible to create otherworldly sounding grooves.
What is noteworthy to point out with Wuz's music is that there is a particular quality to it that really indicates just how "indie" and unpolished it all is - it makes no attempts at hiding that this was all made by just a singular person as a true passion project. Though this does lead to some tracks being dragged down by either track simplicity not being enough to carry the weight or a halling-like effect permeating over them, at times it does also help to enhance the feel of having found a shining jewel out in the wildest corners of music.
The execution of jam26 and the deadly sun destroyers! varies - tracks like "bass wiz" and "swamp! (JAM_SESH26)" prove themselves to be highly ambitious with their structure and percussion-led focus, a risk which ends up proving to be quite effective for their song quality, and further ones like "Surf Trakk 3000" really underline the aforementioned influences coming together. On the other hand, not every track ends up being a memorable piece, as even with the ridiculous amounts of innovation as heard here, garnering actual interest can sometimes still prove to be a challenge. Overall, however, Sundae Wuz has done a solid job with their musical experiments, and though maybe not found at clubs being played as the greatest summer dance hits anytime soon, these tracks are still worthy of a whirl in a collection of overlooked yet well-crafted electric beats.