Bloomfield Machine Unveils "Copium": A Dreamlike Descent into Melancholy and Hope

From the sun-drenched confines of Huntington Beach emerges Copium, the latest full-length album by Bloomfield Machine, the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and sonic craftsman Brian Kassan. Known for a career that stretches across eight distinctive releases, Kassan continues to explore the boundaries of ambient and melodic experimentation with a record that leans into introspection without ever losing its sense of compositional clarity.

Copium is at once a personal soundscape and a conceptual artifact. It is not merely a collection of songs; it is a reflection of unspoken emotions, an audio diary transcribed from the subconscious. The album trades the overt darkness of earlier Bloomfield Machine work for a more atmospheric, almost wistful tone. There is an inherent duality throughout: moments of resignation cushioned by undercurrents of hope. It is a record that breathes deeply, often through restraint.

Minimalist tracks like “Diminishing Returns” and “Trading Happiness” mark a noticeable pivot in Kassan’s stylistic journey. These pieces do not beg for attention; instead, they invite patience. The strength of Copium lies in its ability to evoke feeling through subtlety. Though sparse at times, it remains tethered to Kassan’s innate gift for melody. Each track feels like a sonic snapshot, a fleeting emotion preserved with care and precision.

What makes this project particularly engaging is its origin. Recorded entirely in Kassan’s apartment, Copium is steeped in the intimacy of its setting. Built using Reason DAW and a library of self-curated sounds, the album’s handmade quality never comes off as lo-fi. Instead, it reveals a deep dedication to craft. There is clarity in the production, but also a deliberate embrace of texture: glitchy fragments, ambient drones, and melodic motifs all swirling in balance.

The record’s brevity is also part of its magic. Tracks do not overstay their welcome. They strike, linger, and dissolve. In a world flooded with endless sonic content, Copium chooses to say more with less.

For listeners craving an immersive headphone experience or simply a companion to quiet introspection, Bloomfield Machine offers a body of work that resonates beyond its runtime.

Discover more from Bloomfield Machine and follow the journey on Bandcamp