Self-Portrait
Jay-Jay Johanson · 2008
44 min · 10 tracks · trip hop
A haunting blend of melancholy melodies and intricate beats wrapped in a dreamlike, atmospheric soundscape.
Top tracks — play these first
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Wonder Wonders — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its ethereal production and introspective lyrics, inviting listeners into Johanson's introspective world.
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Autumn Winter Spring — Combining a haunting melody with reflective lyrics about the passage of time, this track exemplifies Johanson's signature style of blending emotional depth with sonic richness.
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My Mother's Grave — This poignant song captures themes of loss and memory through sparse instrumentation, highlighting Johanson's ability to convey deep emotion with minimalism.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends intricate beats and melancholic melodies, showcasing strong songwriting and production.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a more subdued atmosphere with sparse instrumentation.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that create a haunting effect, particularly in 'My Mother's Grave' and 'Medicine'.
- The album closes with 'Sore', which features an extended instrumental outro that gradually fades out, leaving a lingering sense of melancholy.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- introspective moments of solitude
- melancholic reflections on love
- haunting melodies for quiet nights
- slow-paced emotional exploration
- thoughtful soundscapes for contemplation
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of upbeat tempos
- prefer instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Pushed boundaries of trip-hop, showcasing a unique sound within his catalog.
- Themes
- dreamlike nostalgia· loss and memory· seasonal transitions
- Career context
- By 2008, Jay-Jay Johanson was establishing himself firmly within the trip-hop genre with 'Self-Portrait,' his fifth studio album. Following his acclaimed 2005 release 'The Long Term Physical Effects Are Unknown,' this album showcased a maturation in his lyrical themes and musical experimentation, reflecting both personal growth and artistic evolution.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Wonder Wonders 5:34
- 2 Lightning Strikes 5:15
- 3 Autumn Winter Spring 4:57
- 4 Liar 0:56
- 5 Trauma 5:26
- 6 My Mother's Grave 2:53
- 7 Broken Nose 5:13
- 8 Medicine 4:42
- 9 Make Her Mine 3:48
- 10 Sore 6:06
What to play next
Spellbound
2011
Continues the atmospheric and experimental vibe with new sonic textures.
The Long Term Physical Effects Are Not Yet Known
2007
Sets a similar emotional tone that leads into the dreamlike elements of Self-Portrait.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Third
Portishead
Shares a similarly haunting atmosphere with intricate beats and deep emotional resonance.
Heligoland
Massive Attack
Both feature dreamlike soundscapes and a blend of melancholy melodies with experimental production.
LP1
FKA twigs
Equally atmospheric and intimate, merging electronic elements with emotional depth and complex rhythms.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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