Concrete Rainbow by SATNAV blends intricate electronic textures with retro-influenced sound design. The track’s layered structure draws on synth tones that echo 1980s production styles—there are moments reminiscent of Fairlight productions, early Peter Gabriel, or Art of Noise. Fragmented elements combine into a cohesive sonic form, with small-scale textures and tonal gestures building a larger, carefully constructed piece.
Rather than relying on a single motif or melody, the track unfolds through a collage of shifting ideas—glitchy edits, ambient fragments, and melodic synth lines that interact in compelling ways. There’s a playfulness to the arrangement, but also a darker undercurrent that suits the conceptual themes SATNAV explores across his wider work.
SATNAV is the experimental project of Sebastian Zieler, co-founder of The Big Oil Recording Company. His recent debut concept album every•thing•a•part, released in June 2025, is positioned as a meditation on climate grief, using detailed sound design and harmonic experimentation to explore emotional and environmental themes. Zieler’s releases span labels like Lyra Valenza’s Petrola 80, and his music continues to move between electronic pop, ambient, and avant-garde forms.
On Concrete Rainbow, SATNAV continues his interest in high-contrast sound design, fusing digital textures with nostalgic references, resulting in a production that feels at once detailed and evocative.
