Igor Keller has never been afraid of a left-field concept, but his latest project, The Merry Blacksmith’s Song Bucket — out October 31 — might be one of his most daring yet. The album opens with “Monster Zero,” a playful, sci-fi-tinted experiment inspired not by typical pop influences, but by Keller’s longtime obsession with Godzilla movies.
“I love Godzilla movies, and I know there’s a film called Godzilla vs. Monster Zero. I wanted to create my own version — one without Godzilla to save the world.”
That twist becomes the anchor of the track. Across more than 30 albums, Keller has mastered the art of mixing humor, commentary, and storytelling, but here he pushes further, pairing jazz-inspired pop with electronic textures and his trademark wit. The result is part disaster fantasy, part satire, and fully Longboat.
There’s even a surprise tucked at the end of the song — one Keller refuses to fully reveal.
“We’re rescued by an unlikely instrument. I’ll let listeners find out which one for themselves,” he teases.
The album itself was recorded shortly after Igor Keller (Longboat) wrapped his previous project, Word Gets Around, keeping his momentum at full speed. While he continues the “short story” structure that has shaped his recent work, he leans deeper into sci-fi themes this time around. And for the first time in his career, Keller brings in a vocoder — an instrument he initially found intimidating, but ultimately transformative.
“At first, it was intimidating. But once you learn how to use it wisely, it brings something that feels both new and strangely familiar.”
That sense of familiarity-in-innovation has long defined Keller’s approach. A Seattle-based musician and former jazz tenor saxophonist, he moved from the local jazz scene into film scoring before settling into his own brand of experimental pop. Under the Longboat name, he writes, performs, and records most of his material, occasionally pulling in live contributors to round out the evolving sound.
Across 30+ albums, Keller has dissected everything from wealth inequality to tech burnout to the strange humor in modern life, often through the lens of what he calls “electronic blues.” With The Merry Blacksmith’s Song Bucket, he continues that exploration — sharper, more cinematic, and more curious than ever.
If “Monster Zero” is any indication, Keller isn’t just adding another album to his discography. He’s entering a new chapter entirely, where sci-fi storytelling, experimental textures, and creative fearlessness meet in unexpected ways.