Just like a slightly unhinged festive season, Joby Longyin is back with his third album, 'SAATANA', a nine-track whirlwind set for release on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2025. Known for his furiously frenetic and wildly unpredictable soundscapes, Longyin proves once again that his unique artistic vision is nothing short of bonkers—and utterly compelling.
The album sprung to life over a high-pressure, two-day recording session at Le Studio Scotland, starting early on Halloween morning 2025. Joby's set-up was simple yet atmospheric: a single keyboard, a handful of percussion instruments, and a sole microphone, all bathed in warm white Christmas lights and a dramatic red room wash. His methodology is famously fast and furious: find the perfect sound, lay down a rhythm, improvise the keyboard parts, add effects, and finally, deliver improvised, single-take vocals. He truly believes in keeping it "live and real. Warts and all. Human."
The resulting nine tracks are a wild ride, showcasing Longyin’s kaleidoscopic, almost schizophrenic genius. The opener, 'MUM AND DAD', is a surprisingly reflective moment, built on lingering keyboard notes and a quiet charm. It’s arguably the most poignant, stripped-back instrumental we’ve heard from him.
But don’t get too comfortable. 'CHICKEN AND CHEESE WITH A SIDING OF PEAS' throws us headfirst back into Joby’s usual vibrant exuberance, delivering a thumping, avant-garde slice of electronica. Its bonkers charm is instantly hooking, not least due to the line: ‘chicken and cheese with a siding of peas, I know what you're thinking, I am stinking’.
The album’s core shifts darker with tracks like 'ROTATIONAL FREE FLOATING', a cinematic piece driven by heavy bass tones that lurches into ambient, atmospheric whispers, and the title track, 'SAATANA'. The latter is a rattling, lucid extension of the former, featuring Joby's hushed but unsettling vocals delivering the line: ‘everything is connected’. Club energy is layered into the mix on 'FIEND' and later revitalised on 'SMOKIN TYRES'.
Even the lighter moments, like 'LOST YER KEYS RUPERT'—a delightfully off-kilter dance around a buoyant digital melody— maintain that sense of chaotic fun. The darkness returns for 'INSOMNIA REVISITED', a track truly befitting its foreboding title, before the haunting closing movement, 'THE PLUTOCRATS TREE', links together modulated children's laughter, lingering bell tolls, and a final, rising wall of screams.
Much like his previous two albums, 'Joby Longyin' and 'Part Deux', 'SAATANA' is a testament to Longyin's utterly unique vision. If your ears are looking for something a bit different, funny, and utterly bonkers this festive season, look no further than this brilliant, fiercely original release.
For more wonderful madness from Joby Longyin, be sure to check out his website or give him a follow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
