Ben Bohmer - Breathing (7th Anniversary)

Ben Böhmer's debut album Breathing returns for its seventh anniversary, a 2019 set of melodic electronic music made for headphones and sunrise sets alike.

The German producer had already built a loyal following on Anjunadeep with emotive singles and remixes, and this record proved he could sustain a whole album. Rather than chasing peak-time drops, he leaned on warm synth pads, plucked melodies and gently propulsive beats, mixing club rhythms with the patience of an ambient record. Guest vocalists add human colour throughout, from Malou to Monolink, Jonah and Jan Blomqvist.

In Memoriam sets the scene over more than six minutes, easing the listener in before the title track Breathing, sung by Malou, arrives with the album's most open-hearted hook. Black Hole pairs his shimmering production with Monolink's deep, haunting voice, while Decade with Jan Blomqvist adds a bittersweet, late-night feel that suits the reflective mood running through the whole record.

Few modern electronic albums reward a proper sit-down listen quite like this one, where every swell and fade feels carefully placed. Seven years on, the anniversary edition is a welcome excuse to drop the needle, dim the lights and let it play straight through from the first pad to the final fade.