‘Prayer for Dawn’ is Biodiversity’s first record and debut LP from label founder Waz-u. Biodiversity is the label arm of Biodiversity Studios, a multidisciplinary music studio situated in South London. Guided by the connection between religion and dance music, Waz-u tethers ritualistic traditions, both emancipatory and spiritual. There is also a sense of loss and growth, darkness and light and grief and euphoria; three dualities which are common features of organised religion.

The record sits somewhere between techno and electronica, deemed by some as ‘a dubby Jon Hopkins’. The approach to bass frequencies sets this apart from many other techno releases and the melodic motif of ‘Euphemie’ feels very futuristic and modern. ‘Pax’ is more of a traditional techno track, bringing together ambient textures and noisy percussion sounds. However, the emotional quality of ‘Oncoli’ illuminates Waz-u’s interest in classical progressions as well as dub techno sonics. ‘Dawn’ closes the record and highlights some of the process behind some of the more straight ahead dancefloor tracks; the piano and keyboard is used to create the emotion, the beat and sound design create the world that this exists in.

All tracks written, recorded and mixed by Wazoo Baden-Powell
Additional mixing and production on ‘Eufemie’, ‘Chorale’ by Mali Baden-Powell
Additional mixing on ‘Faith in Other’ by Mali Baden-Powell
All tracks created in Biodiversity Studios
All tracks Mastered by Kassian Troyer at Dubplates and Mastering, except ‘Sanctuary’ and ‘Recon’ Mastered by Alex Batchelor
Cover Art by Wazoo Baden-Powell
Design by Mali Baden-Powell
BIO001 – all rights reserved
℗ & © Biodiversity 2023

Prayer For Dawn

Waz-u - Prayer For Dawn [BIO001]

Hot off the heels of an active summer tour across the festival circuit, South London Samba present their debut EP “Tempo!”. Across 5 tracks, band leader Adam Ouissellat drives a tight rhythmically focused sound, with influence from Brazil and across the African diaspora. 

“We have been performing these tunes for a long time and it felt right to archive them when we came up to our 10 year anniversary (the band started in April 2013).
We recorded them at Midi Music Company which is where we have rehearsed and ran classes since the beginning! These tunes have stood the test of time and are loved by audiences wherever we play.”

Recorded in Deptford in single takes without overdubs, and expertly engineered by Ahmad Dayes (brother to Yussef). Tempo! is a vignette of their live performances. It encapsulates the raw power of a drumming orchestra carefully disposed to drive a unique interpretation of samba rhythms. 

Adam says “The idea was to capture the spirit of carnival whilst adding to the rhythmic culture of drumming ensembles. Each piece has melodies and motifs running throughout which makes it a listening experience as well as something anyone can groove to.” 

Tempo! collects global inspiration from the Caribbean, Dutch Brass bands and Latin America and represents a desire to grow their community, and to “push the genre into new territory”. Having already supported the likes of the Black Eyes Peas, Disclosure and performed at the O2 arena and regulars at Notting Hill Carnival, SLS are cementing their prowess with a technical dexterity that is immediately profound.

Tempo!

South London Samba - Tempo! [BIO003 Preview]

"All this country is hollow. Could you strike it with some gigantic hammer it would boom like a drum, or possibly cave in altogether and expose some huge subterranean sea." Arthur Conan Doyle

Emmer & Einkorn are another mysterious duo operating in the ambient dub techno department: with previous releases with their solo aliases Human Resources & Mallard respectively on popular underground dance music labels Devil’s Work (Idle Hands) and Rhythm Section INTL, not to mention a prior EP on Esker Tapes back in 2020.

In 2024, Biodiversity’s second release builds off the first with a deep and rewarding LP from these enigmatic producers. In those 4 years since their s/t (ESKER03) tape, the ambient dub aesthetic has built underground acclaim off the relative streaming success of acts like Purelink, Gi Gi and Cousin - releasing often on tape focussed labels existing within the Bandcamp ecosphere. With E & E keen at work on ‘Karst’ over these past few years, the intersection of European producers with the majoritively American online scene thanks to labels like Jungle Gym and IDS Recordings, is finally here.

Karst represents the concept presented in Arthur Conan Doyle’s quote, creating a sonic landscape inspired by specific features within the Peak District - heavily explored by the artists in their native Derbyshire. With the concept driving the art, and their experiences relating to other artistic expressions of the region, each song is dedicated to geological features of the Derbyshire White Peak and other karst landscapes. With the label “firmly rooted in the balance between electronic abstraction and soundsystem culture”, and greater themes of the divine having been explored in BIO001 (Waz-u - Prayer For Dawn), BIO002 (E&E - Karst) ties back to the ethos of the label. It’s a perfect match, and an excellent peregrination of ambient, dub and techno elements 
credits
released June 28, 2024

Written & Produced By Emmer & Einkorn
Mastering by Alex Batchelor @ Biodiversity Studios
Design by Mali Baden-Powell
Biodiversity © & ℗ MMXXIV

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