Blawan At Juno Download

Review: Amidst all the rightfully celebrated contributions to the R&S revival from James Blake and Space Dimension Controller last year, the punishing dancefloor update of the label's sonic template from Hemlock boss Untold was sort of passed by. Hailing from Barnsley, Blawan becomes the latest rising talent to appear on the iconic Belgian imprint, and takes his cue from Jack Dunning, fully embracing the 303 sound that characterised the label in its pomp and delivering three thrilling tracks that further demonstrate the budding potential shown on his Hessle Audio debut. Lead track "Bohla" sets the tone, crafting a menacing rhythmic swing from a titular growl and smudged bass drums, with intermittent upwards swirls of 303 constantly building and dropping off. "Kaz" proves to be brilliantly schizophrenic in its approach, with intricate drum rhythms cascading around whilst acid lines twist in ten different directions across almost seven freakout-inducing minutes. What really impresses with Blawan is an innate talent for unique rhythms and it's most apparent on the abrasive delight of "Lavender", with rattling percussion covered in a thick viscous bassline truffle shuffle.

Review: Hessle Audio drop two tracks from the mysterious Blawan. Rumours are hinting that this could be a moniker for another producer but for the time being, but for now we'll have to settle for playing the guessing game. We wouldn't be surprised if this was a big name producer, with the title track wonderfully twisting cold, post-garage drums into jungalist syncopations. "Iddy" on the b-side, throws up an entirely different style of percussion - pointed metal on hollow toms gives the track a disjointed but totally danceable feel.

Review: For those with no concept of the studio intricacies that go into producing music, there are certain artists whose traits ensure their productions constantly fascinate. Mr kick drum Blawan certainly falls into that category. The London based Barnsley lad has enjoyed what some people might call a rip roaring 2011, scoring success after success on whatever label is lucky enough to house his music as well as starting his own label initiative with Pariah in the shape of Works The Long Nights. Given the increasingly bezerk techno nature of Blawan's material, it seems natural that one of this year's most consistent imprints in Clone would seek him out for some magic. And Peaches is up there with Blawan's finest work, smartly following Untold's debut on the Basement Series with four track based variations on the fruit every bit as devastating as the Hemlock boss's 12". Those trademark burrowing rhythms and indescribable drums sounds are present throughout each track and you get the feeling Blawan has as much fun making this sort of music as we do listening to it.

Review: The latest set of dancefloor weaponry to be culled from Blawan's seemingly bottomless arsenal arrives after the requisite months of Rinse FM teasing and subsequent YouTube exposure. The familiar strains of Black Mahogani's iconic boss are shredded to bits in the Blawan blender, ensuring "What You Do With What You Have" sits worlds apart from recent tracks that have plundered similar territory. A truly incendiary concoction of gnarled out acid lines and cavernous techno stabs, it's the constant rhythmic switching between the two over a trademark thumping drum flex that impresses. By the time the runout groove is in sight, KDJ sounds knackered, which is entirely understandable. "Vibe Decorum" comes poised with equal potency, wrapping a stretched vocal hook around growing layers of drum to snapping point before letting slack and dropping into the main thrust. From here, there are countless dizzying rhythmic swerves urged on by the oddest of numb sounding vocal intonations - such is the intricate nature and detail of his production, it's hard to work out exactly how Blawan conjures up these tracks but long may he continue to do so!