Jan Wirth
Macadam Theory just gives me this fuzzy warm feeling from the inside out without losing it's momentum. Absolutely genius.
Favorite track: Macadam Therapy.
Universal Human | PURRPPL
Dauwd you are a great inspiration for me. Melancholic, mysterious, rather postivie productions full of soul vibe and deepness.
Thank you.
Favorite track: Leitmotiv.
These days, to leave even the briefest of imprints on the ever-increasingly saturated orbit of dance music can be considered a feat in itself. To make a lasting mark, however, one that manages to cut through the onslaught of new music and artist profiles on spotlight each day, is another accomplishment entirely. Cue Dauwd, the US-born, Wales-raised artist who’s been releasing music for nearly 6 years on such noted labels as Ghostly International and Kompakt, and whose debut album Theory of Colours will be released via Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour Records this June 2nd.
An integral member of the Berlin night and radio show African Acid Is The Future, Dauwd Al Hilali’s releases have been met with as much expectation as they have intrigue. Spending the last few years out of the limelight and in his Berlin studio, Dauwd’s music has continued to ripple through clubs as his singular, sometimes thrillingly uncertain process of experimentation has continued. Pulling inspiration from electronic music legends like Terry Riley, Raymond Scott, and the seminal Radiophonic Workshop period in the late 50’s and 60’s, Dauwd’s 2017 LP draws a unique line between influences as disparate as hazy Detroit house and early German Krautrock.
A skilled musical engineer, Dauwd’s ability to balance between such sprawling genres is, paradoxically, an exercise in restriction, finding creative freedom in limiting his own gear. It’s clear he’s no stranger to focus; sonically, Theory of Colours runs tightly wound, its loops intentional and layers meticulously built. Spanning a succinct forty minutes across seven tracks, Dauwd’s fondness for delays and love for vintage synthesizers characterize much of the album, which was recorded over the course of a year primarily in the Utrecht based Sonar Traffic studio that houses one of the largest collections of vintage synths and other modular equipment in all of Europe. The result is an intricate, scintillating journey that hovers between familiar and strange. For many artists, that enigmatic gap is one that’s anxiously avoided-- the fear of misidentity as a musician more important than the music itself. Throughout Theory of Colours, it’s a space Dauwd comfortably renders as his own.
supported by 62 fans who also own “Theory of Colours”
There is something ineffably beautiful about this album; the characteristic Buchla, the cover art, the more quiet tunes which seem not sad but instead cute and smart. Great for picking up again and again. tmpr
supported by 61 fans who also own “Theory of Colours”
An instant classic! The moment I put this music into my headphones, I knew this was something special. After that, I just had to dig into Pharoah Sanders discogrpahy. Sanders was already a giant of Jazz. But this last release, 18 months before his death can just elevate his reputation even higher. Rest in peace Pharoah! Alex Deschênes
This 6-track compilation features artists from around the world creating deep, expressive, and ultra-dancefloor-ready rhythms. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 16, 2024
Self-taught Detroit modular synth impresario manipulates loops with a deft hand, an experimental mindset, and a techno-infused sound. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 14, 2024
supported by 60 fans who also own “Theory of Colours”
So hard to choose just one favourite, and I hover between this, Baby, School, and Teenage Birdsong. All absolutely banging in all the right (or left) places. vastnessofbeing