Departing from recent tribal, big room sounds, Max Watts journeys into minimal in the modestly titled “MW001 EP.”
Tennessee-based producer Max Watts is getting off the ground in 2020, catching the attention of Electronic Beats and Magnetic Magainze with his 2020 EP “Primal Spirit” and “Hesitancy,” released on NYC’s HAUS of ALTR. Departing from recent tribal, big room sounds, he journeys into minimal in the modestly titled “MW001 EP.” This self-released work features an experimental collection of techno ripe with acerbic dissonances that make us salivate, and a tight rhythmic ethos that we instantly recognize from the second wave of Detroit techno.
Lila begins with a pleasing repetition of chords that whirl against a solemn drum march. Just as we grow comfortable easing into this difficult loop, the curtains lift for new sounds to shift our focus — hi-hats tap in and out. A cymbal rudely joins the chorus. Then, sudden bass distortions throw off any sense of balance. Like succumbing to a stream of TikToks, this track seems to enjoy annihilating our expectations, over and over, in a cyclical manner. As a result, it sustains an agile velocity that keeps us on our toes, and just a bit sedated.
Naut is a track that expands and contracts when minimal elements emerge, recede, and reappear, forming combinations of sounds and textures that shape the mood. When the staccato melodic chords recede, bass drum kicks go full throttle, bringing with it high-energy claps and a percussive intensity that becomes transfixing.
Streetlights, the highlight on this EP, develops into a heartfelt dance track. Blaring organ-like synths mingle with similar chords cut from different fabric. Friction generated by their opposing forces creates rapid and dense beats bottled up with kinetic energy. Whether it makes you want to tear your hair out, break out dancing during a normal workday, or simply close your eyes to experience each bar loop, this assertive track will make an impact. Whatever his whereabouts, age, or story, Watts’ hunger for new musical output is not to be overlooked.
-Lina Xing
Link – Bandcamp
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