Hagai Izenberg Releases New Abstract Album ‘Hypothetical Moon’ [Review]

If you’re drawn to the outer edges of sound and emotion, Hagai Izenberg’s latest album is a journey worth taking. Known for his work with electronic duo Rendezvous and his long-running radio show Radio Concrete, the Israeli sound artist blurs the line between the real and the surreal. Using field recordings, experimental textures, and electronic layering, he creates an immersive world where traditional structure gives way to something far more evocative and abstract. His latest album, Hypothetical Moon, pushes the boundaries of sound design and intrigues the listener with its incredible experimental work, focusing on timbres, textures, and synthesizers. Let’s take an in-depth look at the album.

Discovery

The first track of the album “Discovery” opens with a slightly darker tone, pulling you into a sci-fi world through distorted radio-like synth bleeps. There’s no need for drums here—the synths carry the full emotional weight, shifting from lush, emotive pads into a restless, chaotic soundscape. It’s a track that speaks in textures, moving between calm and unease with quiet confidence.

Grotto

“Grotto” starts off with underwater-like sounds before pitch-bent leads drift in. The soundscape continues to evolve, with even a ping-pong ball masterfully woven into the track’s texture.

Habitat

The track opens with sparse glitch noises that gradually build up, almost like heavy machinery warming up. What stands out most is how the sound fades away so naturally—it feels as if it’s escaping from its source. Loud bursts of animal sounds are also beautifully woven into the composition. The evolving textures keep the track in constant motion, making it a captivating listen from start to finish.

Subterrain

“Subterrain” is an intriguing track that somehow makes you feel both underwater and surrounded by wind. It’s impressive how naturally these sounds are recreated—they don’t feel synthetic, but rather organic and alive. The sound design is exceptional, with a clarity that makes every detail stand out.

Crest

“Crest” is the longest—and perhaps the most diverse and abstract—track on the album. It opens with heavy synth work that feels like the output of a modular machine, raw and unpredictable. As the track unfolds, new elements are added slowly and organically, making the progression feel natural. A repetitive synth line acts as the glue, holding the abstract components together. It’s impressive how seamlessly Hagai blends so many sounds and influences into something so coherent—an incredibly tough feat pulled off with finesse.

Zenith

“Zenith” could be described as a wilder, more chaotic counterpart to the track Habitat. It features animal-like sounds, but with a metallic twist—almost as if they belong in a cyborg sci-fi film. As with the rest of the album, the sound design is remarkable, and the ability to craft such unique, machine-like textures is a rare skill.

Gyrate

The closing track of the album starts off with a well-crafted syncopated synth that makes use of the space quite efficiently being panned from left to right. As the track progresses, the synth goes off the scale creating tension with new sounds being gradually introduced.

Overall, the sound design throughout the project is outstanding. For synth enthusiasts, this album is definitely worth exploring. It would be fascinating to see Hagai break down how he created these sounds—there’s a lot to learn from the way he crafts such vivid atmospheres and textures with such precision. Hagai is a prolific artist working at the intersection of music and art. If the album is your style, be sure to explore the rest of his work on his website.