Known for his avant-garde approach to electronic music, the mysterious producer Panoram returns with Wandering Frames, a composition that pushes the boundaries of genre and expectation. Released on the esteemed Running Back imprint, this track embodies everything we’ve come to expect from the enigmatic artist—playful experimentation, off-kilter rhythms, and a sense of tranquil disorientation.
With over a million streams and recognition from tastemaker outlets like Pitchfork, Mixmag, and Electronic Groove, Panoram’s music has captivated a dedicated following in the IDM and experimental electronic communities. His latest offering, Wandering Frames, is a continuation of his uniquely unpredictable sound, where abstract pop, chilled synthwave, and dreamlike textures collide in an intricate soundscape that dances just beyond conventional genre classifications.
The track opens with slow, wandering percussion, setting a meditative tone as ethereal pads drift in and out of focus. Throughout Wandering Frames, there’s an underlying tension between calmness and disorientation, as elements emerge and recede, never quite settling. The track’s foundation is built on a bed of hazy, ambient sounds, while unexpected details—like the wonky saxophone slides and pitch-modulated vocals—introduce an element of surrealism, reinforcing the experimental ethos of Panoram’s work. The child’s distant, plaintive voice that occasionally drifts through the track adds to its dreamlike quality, blurring the lines between the real and the imagined.
At its core, Wandering Frames is an invitation to explore. Panoram himself explains that the track was written to act as a frame through which the listener can observe. There’s an intentionality to the way he blends sonic elements—none of them adhere to a rigid structure, yet each one occupies its own space, contributing to a larger, shifting picture. The track’s main melody, played on a computer keyboard with a stuttering, blurred quality, serves as a perfect metaphor for Panoram’s approach to music: fleeting, fragmented, and constantly in motion.
Fans of experimental artists like Com Truise, Boards of Canada, and Oneohtrix Point Never will feel right at home in Wandering Frames’ lush, synthetic world. Yet, what sets Panoram apart is his willingness to resist categorisation, to let each track breathe and evolve on its own terms. His ability to conjure such vivid soundscapes while maintaining an elusive, almost whimsical atmosphere is a testament to his mastery of experimental composition.
Wandering Frames may not provide easy answers, but that’s exactly what makes it so captivating. In the hands of Panoram, music becomes a space for reflection, a fleeting moment to get lost in sound before it dissolves and morphs into something new. Whether you’re seeking a moment of introspection or an adventurous sonic escape, Panoram’s latest track offers both—providing a frame within which the listener can truly wander.
