It’s an interesting time for Haŵs, having successfully rolled out their parties to popular venues across Cardiff and London with takeovers hosting everyone from Special Request to DMX Krew in the last year alone. Their previous releases on the label side have been more languorous and serene, with their overarching vision primarily holding a strong emphasis on building upon a bedrock of house music, and bolstered with accents of acid, breaks and other subgenres. But since their more recent event bookings have been so notably comprehensive, the sixth EP has taken that full step into developing upon the variety they champion at their parties. This next chapter of their growth actualises itself in the form of Dawl’s ‘Break It Down’ EP, a warehouse-ready, bouncy and charismatic record channelling insatiable vigour from beginning to end.
‘Break It Down’ on the A-side is a relentless jackhammer of a track, pumped full of rich breaks and clipped acid lines. ‘Subject 91’ flattens the gas pedal even further, with a gated, spectral synth levitating hazily above the militant drums that heave the whole track forward.
On the B-side, the brawny ‘Proton’ returns to the acidic burn of the opening track, except this one is occupied by chirping synths and oscillations of noise that seem to rise and fall with a trippy authority. Finally, highflyer and man of the moment Kosh employs his natural gift of the gab on the closing remix of ‘Break It Down’ with a raucous rhythm and a regurgitated bassline that never dwindles on its own gusto.
Despite the substantial weight and pugnacity of this 4-tracker, the staple Haŵs euphoria twinkles through. There’s no shortage in complex drum sequencing, breaks samples and all the other frills, yet the final output is compact and neat. As Haŵs increases its vision more extensively to dance music from across the board, it seems that the best things might at times come as contradictions, and this record’s tone certainly fits the bill.
Pre-order now on bandcamp.
