SW. – Reminder Part Three
After the mulchy beatdown of PG Sound’s six-track Untitled 12”, the wonderful SUED label returns with the third annual Reminder from co-founder SW. and with it another round of refreshing house and techno. In the rare public showing that was Will Lynch’s SUED feature on RA earlier this year, SW. was described as “the techno side” of the label by his co-founder SVN, and the Reminder series has so far qualified that statement. Arguably, if you wanted to introduce a newcomer to SUED, you’d pull out one of the Reminder 12”s by SW. which marry the unconventional nature entrenched in the label’s DNA with a strong 4/4 pulse.
This third Reminder 12” may well be my favourite SUED record yet and finds SW. landing a surprise opening punch. Perhaps inspired by SVN and Dynamo Dreesen’s recent collaboration with Dave Huismans, SW. experiments with breakbeats on this track, laying down mangled broken rhythms and rugged sub-bass under some charmingly warm chords dipped in a glassy finish. Sampled signal frequencies are weaved in too, but only really make themselves audible until the track nears its end and suggest this might be a SUED homage to the pirate radio scene of ‘90s London. Or maybe that’s just the Hard Wax description working its magic?
The usage of sampled live drums and field recordings are key signifiers in the hypnotic SUED sound, and both are deployed by SW. with precision on the A-side closer. The sounds of birds chirping amidst a thunderstorm soon meet polyrhythms buried deep in the mix, and they only get pushed further down as SW. pulls together an expansive production rich in detail that crucially never feels too weighed down. How is this achieved? The misty Motor City pads that SW. swirls atop lend a sense of lightness that has you going cross-eyed trying to trace their trajectory.
Everyone loves a nostalgia-inducing house cut right? SW. delivers this feeling with the utmost satisfaction on the B-side opener, a piano house number that will increase the width of your smile and warmth in your soul with each listen. Intriguingly, the sampled signal frequencies of the first track are recycled and used here too, though in a wholly understated way that doesn’t distract from the overall joy. The carnival-esque joys of the closer may be the shortest track here, but the sheer energy of the production suggests SW. had plenty of fun making it.
Tony Poland
Tracklisting:
A1. Untitled
A2. Untitled
B1. Untitled
B2. Untitled