Waajeed Mother EP Planet E | The Electro Review

Waajeed
Mother EP
Planet E
TBR: 16th March


Head of Dirt Tech Reck, Waajeed slams down four banging tracks on the Planet E label. The Detroit based soundsmith has worked alongside great names in the business including Theo Parrish, Amp Fiddler, and Mad Mike Banks. With a recent residency of the touring nightlife sensation of the Detroit Love Party during 2017, Waajeed has managed to craft a superb and original direction from everything achieved so far. It's a long way since the days of Bling47 and Slum Village now has a soul of its own. Times have brought mountains to climb and Waajeed has taken them all in his stride.


A playful brassy beat melody cracks open the case with a fruity dance-with-me vibe. Some rhythmic chords fill the spaces before guest vocalist Steffanie Christi'an enters the scene with a sauntering layer of voice. Looped fluctuations of her vocal begin to form part of the underlying track while jazz inspired lines continue to add fresh feels. The mix is a head mover, grabbing a well liked part of our consciousness and giving it the inspiration to dance inside. Mental poses in busy bars with brightly coloured drinks spring to mind, a sensation only certain music can manifest. The catchy riff from the first bars re-enters the central point of listening and with the extra progressions running smoothly alongside, the song is brought to its peak.


Blaktony makes an appearance for the second number on this four track release. A minimal sound gives way to vocoded lyrics, shimmering behind a digital gleam. Light-headed melodics tip tap on the funky scales as an insistent cymbal track gives everything an illuminating rhythm. A drive through dramatic insinuations and scored orchestration gives the mix an atmosphere of cinematic quality. Progressions and builds pile on the story-line of sound as subtle shifts in tone evolve the direction around twists and turns in the road. Self similarity like the city streets is jostled by the gradual change in intention and emotion that ride through each section. An interesting synth breaks the track down ready for something new.


A slinky metallic drum melody begins a tempo suitable for partying. A buzzing synth waves in with a building pulse melody before a breakdown creates the yolk in full form. Dancing melodies swivel around like loose pebbles on a runway while a resounding bass beat kicks everything up into clouds of dust. Breaks and interludes force the gears up one by one in ample doses of forward facing sound. Progress is fast and new original layers always insist on being delivered, taking turn to see how a revolving door of effect and mixing techniques alters their subtle tints. Catchy beats underpin this shifting and turbulent mosey through waveform and entertaining rhythms. Blippy and twangy sections merge with bass driven thumps and fat sub-tunes which create a whirlpool of ever changing sound.


Final track, Frances, takes on a digital sounding flurry while mood laden hums and drones simmer gently in sustained chordish notes. Sensual drumming worms its way through the initial business to calm the track down to something more tangible. Retro inspired synths craft a sensation of sitting back in an easy-chair, listening to the chit-chat of likeable and interesting people. Wobbling tunes on the bass notes create a loaf of fluffy cushioning for sharper and more spicy high end compositions to evolve and progress gradually over the top. The mood of the EP remains relaxed through-out and with elements of excitement and energy to enjoy during the moments of inspired direction, a well worked energy sits comfortably in each bar. Dancing music with a slice of lemon and fizz gives us room to take it easy, enjoy the sounds, and find a flow somewhere in between moving and not.


Check out Waajeed on Amazon UK


and Amazon US