Heard It Here First

Some albums are collections of songs. Others are moments of transcendence. “Esoterra” is the latter. After seven years of writing, refining, jamming, scrapping, reworking, and road-testing ideas across stages from Red Rocks to Sonic Bloom, Philly’s own 5AM Trio are finally ready to reveal the full story they’ve been quietly building toward this whole time.

At its core, “Esoterra” is about the things that keep us human; dancing with friends in a field, watching a sunset, falling in love. All moments that keep us viscerally engaged with life’s mystery. It’s a record born from curiosity and crafted with the kind of intention that’s becoming increasingly rare in modern electronic music. Across its tracklist, the Trio pulls inspiration from jam, bass, jazz, glitch, downtempo, and the sprawling sonic worlds Sam Andrus has wandered through over the years. The result? A body of work that finally nails what 5AM Trio have been hinting at since day one: a truly symbiotic blend of electronic production and live instrumentation.

“Earthtones”, the third track from this album, encapsulates the essence of “Esoterra”. An inspiring, yet melancholic monologue by Charlie Chaplin flurries into a sonic landscape, padded with ethereal synths and droning bass. The track morphs as melodies and rhythms grow more intricate. A brief moment of tranquility is pleasantly interrupted by the tasty distortion from guitarist Keith Wadsworth. Dark, driving bass lines pulse through the speakers, while metal drum fills from Zone Drums pound underneath. If there is an exemplar of true musical range, this track is it.

“Glisten” continues the sonic escapade. This is where the trio showcases itself as one of the most intuitive groups on the scene. The track seamlessly weaves funk and roots bass lines through arpeggiated synths. Like a bird flying through branches and limbs, each aspect of this song dances with the others; the dark with the light, the resonant with the dissonant.

Perhaps my personal favorite from this collection of showstoppers is “Drift”. The opening guitar harmonies invite the listener to dance, but also to contemplate what is next. The answer: a complete shift in structure. The middle of the track rises into a symphony composed of Wadsworth’s axe shredding, Zone Drums’ rhythmic prowess, and Andrus’ stunning sound designs. This track feels like Flume, Sunsquabi, and Daily Bread jamming out on a Sunday afternoon.

5AM calls the record “a representation of that journey in music-form,” built from tracks he held onto because they felt too meaningful to drop as singles. Keith Wadsworth adds that the album is “road tested and dancefloor approved,” the product of pulling apart ideas and rebuilding them with deeper dynamics and emotion. And Zone Drums aka Aaron Harel sums it up perfectly: ‘”Esoterra” sounds less like electronic music topped with instruments and more like a seamless new organism—each member’s expertise braided together through exhaustive collaboration.’

If the early singles “Rise,” “Unknown,” “Sprout,” “Encompass,” and “Emergence” are any indication, this LP is about to set a whole new bar for the jam-bass intersection. It’s textured, melodic, adventurous, alive, and reminds us that music does not have to be confined to genre anymore. It can evolve with emerging tastes and production capabilities. It is magic.

Catch 5AM Trio on tour this fall in Fort Collins, Denver, Amherst, Allentown, and Philadelphia. Let us know what track hits you the hardest—and stay tuned. This one’s going to leave a mark.

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