03 – Oward – Trying To Make You Dance [39DGT08]

Contact: detectionaudio@gmail.com

It’s been a minute since Oward last made an appearance on our waveforms, but we’re very excited to present some fresh weapons from the budding French wizard. You might remember I Need A Rocking Chair from last year. A nasty little riddim that safely went off along with the other tracks on his weighty Wellness Collab EP with Pük. Since then he’s kicked on, blasting EP’s with the likes of Eject, Freelife, Never Be Normal and Late Night Superglue; with the highlight probably being a physical feature inside a chunky VA from the mighty Dungeon Meat. 39 Recs and Oward became aligned just before the start of the new year as the Parisian label acquired his skills to concoct a shifty remix for Grinch’s Clavinet 303 EP. Seven months later, both artist and imprint have re-connected for a full-throttled solo EP from the man himself.

The ‘Acid Sun Tracker’ EP delivers the goods with four typically super-charged minimal cuts that promise to rock your socks off. You really could say that Oward has a unique sound. It’s both stabby and techy, yet nimble and full of groove; the swing Oward generates on his productions is absolutely impeccable and has the agility and prowess to flip any dance-floor.

‘Pavot de Coder’ is the first out of the blocks with a rolling, techy endeavour that packs a punch like Rocky’s left glove. Squelchy acid plumps, weird voices and skippy drums occupy this shifty bassline and stream-line in parallel with some shiny synth jabs and optimistic pads. ‘Play Me At Sunwaves’ makes it’s direct request before a ball has been kicked as Oward patterns his next deft nug with another pacey bassline that’s rammed with a hoovered bass, sharp hats and druggy arpeggios. If DJ’s do as they’re told they’ll have a very capable tackle at their disposal.

‘Trying To Make You Dance’ is a dangerous cut and should come with a warning. This one blew our head off and it was only right that we made this techy pile-driver our selection to propel onto the cloud. A bomb of the highest order. It’s in possession of a bass that cuts through the mix like an acid-tinged live-wire and is perfectly syncopated to the bassline with hazardously steppy drums and an aggressively adroit groove.

‘What You Waiting For’ closes the EP with an end-game blast of high-octane minimal energy as Oward concludes the madness with a dogged stomper that fuses choppy snares and slick drum-fills with peculiar bleeps and fluctuating synth-lines.

Pre-Order: t.ly/DIA7I

Oward: t.ly/NUt5l

39 Recs: t.ly/JGOC

Stream ‘Trying To Make You Dance’ below: