In  many  ways,  it’s  difficult  to  believe  Wehbba  only  dropped  his  first  full-length  EP  on  Drumcode  this  year.  Released  in  February,  the  four-tracker  ‘Eclipse’  was  a  monster  statement  piece  of  the  Brazilian’s  talents  and  followed  on  superbly  from  ‘Fake’,  his  contribution  to  last  year’s  A-Sides  Vol.6  –  inarguably  one  of  the  biggest  tracks  on  the  compilation.  With  the  confirmation  that  Wehbba  will  take  part  in  Drumcode’s  Off  Week  party  in  Barcelona,  followed  by  the  brand’s  takeover  of  Resistance  in  Ibiza,  it’s  indisputable  proof  that  his  crisp,  chord-driven  take  on  techno  has  become  a  vital  component  to  the  expansive  palette  of  sound  Adam  Beyer  has  drawn  for  the  label  in  2018  and  beyond.    

‘Catarse’  marks  the  rapid-fire  follow-up  from  the  prolific  producer.  Opening  with  the  eerie  ‘She  Lost  Control’,  Wehbba  says  he  took  inspiration  from  the  Joy  Division  track  of  almost  the  same  name  (‘She’s  Lost  Control’),  but  instead  of  crafting  the  dense  sonic  atmosphere  with  vocals,  he  employs  an  analogue  kick  drum  and  stealth-like  moog  bass  with  dramatic  results.  ‘Process’  follows,  a  cut  which  begun  as  a  cover  jam  of  Laurent  Garnier’s  ‘Crispy  Bacon’and  ends  up  incorporating  the  cut-up  vocals  of  legendary  minimal  composer  Steve  Reich,  who  is  one  of  Wehbba’s  chief  inspirators.  The  resulting  track  is  an  ice-cool  percussive  work  that’s  rich  in  dancefloor  functionalism.  The  title  track  will  befamiliar  to  many  who  follow  Drumcode  Radio,  a  goose-bump  inducing  highlight  of  Beyer’s  DCR392  at  Awakenings  in  Eindhoven,  ‘Catarse’  is  driven  by  a  memorable  melodic  riff  resplendent  in  90’s  techno  euphoria.  The  EP  concludes  with  the  terrific  ‘Mind  Awake’,  a  powerful  concoction  of  reverb  heavy  basslines  and  glitchy  effects,  that’s  been  thoroughly  road  tested  by  both  Beyer  and  Wehbba  and  kicks  like  a  rodeo  bull.

Wehbba - Catarse - Drumcode - DC192

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