Layering past with present to produce the future: who knew time-travel could be this catchy?

Are you a 20-something-year-old? Active social media user? Maybe an edm enthusiast? Hell, do you at least watch memes?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you’ve probably come across Sam Gellaitry in the last few years. You may not know what the Scottish-born, up-and-coming electronic producer/singer-songwriter looks like, but you do know what he sounds like. In 2023, Gellaitry’s dance-pop track, “Assumptions” (2021), became a viral TikTok sensation. An ear-catching electronic melody prominently featured alongside dance and nostalgia-based meme content, “Assumptions” gradually rose to become one of the most recognizable edm/house hits of the last few years. But who exactly is Gellaitry, and musically, what does he have to offer outside a series of slowed-down and sped-up “Assumptions” renditions? 

Having garnered initial momentum on the popular online music platform, Soundcloud, in the same vein as his many influences (Kaytranada, Toro y Moi, Flying Lotus, and more), Gellaitry began captivating critics with the release of his 2019 Mixtape, Viewfinder Vol 1: Phosphene. A sonic excursion that blends electronica with jazz-fusion, trap, and prog, amongst other genres, Viewfinder preceded his fourth EP, IV, in 2021, where Assumptions marked his first taste of mainstream commercial appeal. Characterized by a unique blend of 80s-inspired pop synths, love-crazed lyrics, and modern House/EDM fusion rhythms, “Assumptions,” in its ever-growing popularity, sparked a crossroads for the avant-garde, prodigal-like producer. With a new set of eyes and ears all over, ready to launch him higher into broader musical horizons, what exactly should a debut album sound like? Flash forward four years, another mixtape, and a collaboration with PinkPantheress later, and we finally have the long-awaited official introduction to Sam Gellaitry: ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT (2025). 

True to his roots as an electronic taste-maker, groove-master and sound-bender, ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT opens on a cinematic note with track 1: “LIGHTNING.” Commencing with an ominous drum-repetition that leaves the listener initially unsure of the journey ahead, Gellaitry triumphantly ignites the record’s journey with the incorporation of bright synth harmonies alongside love-struck lyrics that boldly proclaim what this record will capture: excitement, infatuation, heartbreak and all the other symptoms of love with dance rhythms, innovations and homages. After “LIGHTNING” strikes, track 2: “START UP A RUMOUR” carries the synths into an electro-pop number where Sam recalls warnings given to him, rejecting the dangerous rumours of his romantic obsession. The track is as danceable in melody as it is apprehensive in lyric. The pattern continues on track 3: “NERVOUS,” where Gellaitry describes the alluring, yet dangerous mystique of another that simultaneously attracts and frightens him. Accompanying these sentiments is a chorus just as intoxicating, mixing abrupt guitar riffs with aggressive drum stems. The track culminates in a transcendent, psychedelic-esque synth-solo that cements “NERVOUS” as one of the hardest-hitting tracks of the year — essentially the older sibling of “Assumptions,” but a little more jaded from the quarrels of love that the latter so blindly accepts. 

The sinister soundscape of “NERVOUS” grooves into a more upbeat melody on track 4: “CURIOUS”, where Gellaitry and Toro y Moi mix chopped vocal stems and synths with lyrics detailing Sam’s growing obsession with another despite his prominent social and personal differences to them. Irony becomes the lesson, as his curiosity quickly turns into denial, unable to see the affections for the miscalculation they are. This theme develops on track 5: “DANGER!” —  a strong title for a song that functions as a warning from Sam to his attraction, who is now cognizant of his unhealthy infatuation, yet unable to stop himself from his pursuit. The echoing, siren-like loop that forms the main melody, alongside the deep synth-bass backing, further cements its hazardous nature. Track 6: “ON&ON,” then carries the danger as a personal introspection, where Sam discusses his own struggles with trust and reliance. The production inverts that of “NERVOUS,” utilizing an upbeat drum pattern and synth solo to contrast its hesitant lyrics. “ON&ON,” in reflection, becomes the stylistic twin of “Assumptions,” sonically similar yet more nuanced in its subject matter.

The second half of the album marks a distinct change from the first, with a brief, interlude-designed track 7: “LOVE ON ME.” Here, pitched whistle-style synths harmonize alongside kick drums to produce a dreamy aquatic atmosphere akin to compositions one would hear in an underwater video game level. The lyrics as well shift into the positive, as Gellaitry pleads with the lover not to miss out on a rare opportunity for genuine romantic intimacy. With “LOVE ON ME,” the album transitions from straight dance anthems into slower-tempo, somber moments equal in introspection, ambience and desire. Track 8: “CLOUDS” embodies this change through a digital wave of harmonizing synthesizers that accompany a faint call for help, as Gellaitry’s solitary, dissociative tendencies manifest into a cry for companionship. Alongside these cries are a procession of embellishing vocal layers and chops that produce the ascendant-like, ambient-influenced meditation on love. The listener is no longer dancing here, but floating, as “CLOUDS” suggests. Things take a more melodic turn on track 9: “RESTORE MY FAITH,” an R&B-inspired deep-cut that becomes the late-night slow song of the dancefloor. Classy, seductive keyboard progressions and laid-back drums insinuate the comforting lyrics of hope for the couple’s future. 

The final side of the record starts with the emotional climax and most ambitious piece of ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT, track 10: “SCAR / A NEW VOID.” A 6-minute sonic opus split into two parts, “SCAR” utilizes fast-tempo drum kicks and blaring electronic horns to emphasize the permanence of Sam’s sudden heartbreak — a “SCAR” both expected, yet painful nonetheless. Despite the agony, Gellaitry opts for forgiveness as “SCAR” becomes “A NEW VOID”: a drumless, 8-bit infused decrescendo where Sam insists that despite all the cautionary tales, rumours and suffering, he does not regret his decision to try. Track 11: “DON’T TRY” functions as the ‘day-after’ moment of this romantic disaster. Gellaitry, now conscious of his flaws and inability to be a proper lover, inverts the warnings given to him and pleads for his partner to abandon him and his cursed affections. This moment marks a breakthrough, as for the first time, Gellaitry sets aside his own desires for what is best for his partner. In a sense, this selflessness marks the first ‘true-love’ sentiment of the album. Musically, this development could not be more French House, as the drum breaks, synth basslines, looped piano chords, and vocoder-infused plugin vocals produce a melody reminiscent of 2000s-era Daft Punk mixes. A tribute laced with irony, as the heartbreak and maturity of the lyrics memorably contrast with the upbeat pop-dance grooves of the production, creating a style that simultaneously reminisces on its predecessors while venturing into the future. 

As the melody fades, the percussion remains as day transitions to night on the final track: YOU MIGHT FIND THE ONE, where Gellaitry’s talk-box vocals and adlibs complement the proclamations to move on, grow, and be right for his future soulmate. The first minute serves as a build, gradually layering drum patterns and vocal harmonies until the final release (1:10) and breakdown (2:27) which triumphantly collapses under heavy distortion (3:36) as a last goodbye. A pause. The electronic soundscape then fades as a trace of acoustic life materializes in its final moment. Angelic, feminine backing vocals and soaring orchestral strings descend from the skies to close the track and bring the entire album back home. After experiencing all the ups and downs synonymous with love, the computer has finally become human. 
And in just 45 minutes, we finally have ANYWHERE HERE IS PERFECT. A grandiose,  ear-catching start that cements Sam Gellaitry’s distinct style as an electronic tour de force. Fusing the abstract approaches of his mixtapes with the virality of his Assumptions-era dance-pop anthems, Gellaitry has undeniably paved a new lane for electronic artists brave enough to blend any genre, past or present, that they so please. Just how far this road goes remains to be seen. Within this sonic kaleidoscope of disco, funk, synthwave, and electronica throwbacks alike lies a timeless quality that renders Gellaitry’s debut album both an homage-inspired reflection of the past and an experimental-infused gateway into the future. A fitting title; had this been released a decade ago, or two, hell, even three from now, anywhere, really, this would have been perfect.