Review // Dauwd- 'Heat Division' EP

Dauwd- 'Heat Division' EP

US-born, Wales-raised come now South London-based producer Dauwd, is back with his first EP release since 2011’s ‘Acireams’ and ‘Whats There’ smashes from Pictures Music, that certainly caught the eyes and ears of a saturated post-dubstep scene, in bringing a much needed lease of life- albeit in a minor reference. This four-track ‘Heat Divison’ issue sees the collaboration of the aforementioned label of past releases, collaborate with Ghostly International making for two highly respected roads upon the electronic motorway, conducting the perfect relationship to release this less than twenty-five minute tease. The EP’s title track opener is automatically cited as one of the deeper, heavier tracks across the piece- what with simmering analogues that sound like something spliced straight off a Jiaolong release mixed with heavy breakdown beats and mesmerising synth exertions, that result in a tripping techno effort. Organic, glossy rhythms take to the forefront of this, constructed meticulously to make for an EP that cements itself as an intricately complex compilation of tracks, rather than focusing primarily on vocal attributes, as he did on his infant offers.

From the offset, ‘Heat Division’ omits a warming rather than heavily brash tone, as most contemporary producers shy away from- and hey, they say you should never judge a book by it’s cover but looking at the selected artwork and the connotating relations to a balmy yet marvellous thought-out pitch, we say dive right on in. ‘Aqueous’ bleeds through with wavering tribal-like blisters and harmonising elevations that take it to something of a drugged-out state, as slattering paces layer overhead moulding beautifully into a synth-led finisher upon ‘Silverse’. Closer ‘And’ rises with gloopy, high glitches, densely stretched drones and ethereal, remixed vocal samples- an addition of which is an obvious missing insertion everywhere else on the EP that we would have submerged ourselves into as a focal point, mercilessly, that we know and love from Dauwd's earlier chopped techniques .

Pensively atmospheric and stepping away from the safety blanket of his past, more dance floor friendly introductions, ‘Head Division’ finally sees Dauwd cementing his own personal talents alongside his peers who wouldn't dare shy away from their staple techniques with an influx of beautiful bends and stretched gurgles- but it seems like the man behind the guise is here to experiment for quite some time, yet.

Words by Yours Truly X