SUSS turn twilight into haunted ambient country on ‘Counting Sunsets’

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SUSS albums have a unique, otherworldly quality, as if they come from a different place. While not exactly from outer space, their music definitely evokes a sense of drifting through the cosmos.

Their music feels less like a polished performance and more like a desolate highway at dusk – a place of quiet loneliness, flickering neon lights, and a haunting, windswept sound, almost like a mournful steel guitar.

SUSS has a unique ability to make ambient country music feel incredibly immersive. It’s not just a different style to explore; it’s like being enveloped in a soft, swirling dust storm – but you have to slow down and let the music wash over you to truly experience it.

10 sunsets, 10 small disappearances for SUSS

SUSS continues to explore their atmospheric and evocative sound with Counting Sunsets. The album consists of ten connected tracks, all titled “Sunset” followed by a number – “Sunset I”, “Sunset II”, and so on – creating a unified and immersive experience.

The beauty of this work lies in its straightforward approach. SUSS doesn’t present the sunset as a pretty picture or a symbol of sadness. Instead, they see it as something disappearing – each of the ten sunsets represents a small loss, a chance to witness daylight fading and letting go of the memories, both good and bad, from the day before.

Okay, so listening to this new album, it really reminds me of SUSS’s older stuff – it’s got that same patient, sprawling vibe. You know how a lot of ambient music just feels…empty? Or tries to sound deep by being too quiet? SUSS totally avoids that. Even when things are still, the music feels full of life and detail, like there’s something happening beneath the surface. It’s really cool.

Okay, so I’m listening to this new album, and it’s seriously cool. It starts really subtly – like a gentle guitar, a ghostly pedal steel, and this low electronic buzz building underneath. Every now and then, a harmonica or piano will pop up, almost like a little signal, before everything fades back into this dreamy soundscape. It honestly reminds me of some of the best country and country rock albums from way back in 1969 – it’s got that same fresh, exciting vibe.

The album begins with “Sunset I,” a track that immediately establishes SUSS’s signature sound – a hazy, echoing feel with a melancholic pace. It evokes the vastness of the American West without feeling overly theatrical or relying on stereotypical Southern accents.

This isn’t upbeat or carefree music for those caught up in a certain style. It’s more haunting and melancholic, like gazing upon a familiar place that holds deep meaning – a meaning you can feel but struggle to express.

This feeling continues in “Sunset II,” a particularly beautiful track early on the album. The guitar and pedal steel don’t really play with each other, but rather exist in the same space, allowing each instrument to subtly explore more unusual sounds.

The electronic sounds create a dreamy atmosphere, like a heat haze on an empty road, but the music remains grounded and substantial. SUSS excels at crafting lovely music that isn’t afraid to be a little rough around the edges.

“Sunset III” has a subtly unsettling rhythm. It starts with delicate, airy sounds that gradually become a little strange. A quiet, underlying rustle prevents the track from sounding too polished, and this is key to why the album Counting Sunsets is so effective. Even when the music is most beautiful, it maintains a sense of unease and never feels completely comfortable.

“Sunset IV” is a particularly striking track, with its harmonica and guitar creating a sense of open road and a lonely, almost abandoned atmosphere. It evokes a clear picture – cracked asphalt, the late afternoon sun, a possibly deserted gas station – and the feeling of drifting tumbleweeds across the American desert, all without being overly descriptive.

As a big fan of SUSS, I’ve been really struck by “Sunset IX.” It’s amazing how they can take a simple musical idea and develop it so beautifully without it ever feeling forced or overblown. It doesn’t hit you with a huge, dramatic finish; instead, it slowly builds this incredible feeling, like all these small sounds are gradually coming together to create something truly special and lasting. It’s a really subtle reward, but it sticks with you.

The album ends with “Sunset X,” a gentle conclusion that feels perfect given the record’s themes of fading away, lingering sounds, and natural decay. It’s like watching the very last bit of sunlight disappear.

Ambient country weathered into being

SUSS is known for successfully combining American roots music with ambient soundscapes, and their new album, Counting Sunsets, feels less like an experiment and more like a fully realized, comfortable space they now inhabit. They’ve moved beyond showing how these genres can work together and are simply living within that sound.

The electronic and country sounds aren’t just added to the music; they blend together seamlessly. The result feels natural and organic, like it evolved over time, with instruments like pedal steel, synthesizers, and guitar creating a dreamy, atmospheric sound.

This likely explains why the album has a dreamy quality without feeling scattered. The tracks are relatively short for ambient music, and this brevity is a real strength. SUSS knows when to stop – they don’t overstay their welcome or let the soundscapes become repetitive. They create a memorable atmosphere and then move on.

SUSS’s album, Counting Sunsets, is truly beautiful, but not in a sterile or overly-produced way. It’s a patient record, allowing quiet moments to speak, and recognizing the subtle fullness of the desert landscape. Similarly, their blend of ambient and gothic country music feels rich and complete in the hands of skilled musicians.

Honestly, this album really got to me. It’s amazing how they built something so powerful from these tiny, almost fragile sounds – a slightly off-key melody, a repeating loop that’s barely there, a spooky chord, or even just a quiet, distant hum. Counting Sunsets doesn’t try to be epic or over the top; it just hangs out in that sweet spot at the end of the day when everything feels both empty and incredibly full. It’s a really beautiful vibe.

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2026-05-20 22:01