Mad Hatter EP (12”)

DVA comes with a four tracker, including a DJ Rashad remix, which works really expressively within a tight format of stabbing melodies and swirling psychedelic atmosphere. The EP starts with the very broken beat of ‘Mad Hatter’ its chewed up snares slung around a driving kick and frantic off beat tones that disappear down wormholes of fx before popping up again. ‘Gang Gang Riddim’ is deconstructed dancehall, taking driving claps that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Lenky track and wrapping nervous stabs and a sliding funky worm-like melody through them, with the occasional rasta sample dropping into the mix. ‘Chilli Burrito’ starts off being all about pounding moody kicks and hypnotic, brassy stabs, but wait until the dialogue of a new MDMA user starts and the music becomes a witty, sardonic accompaniment to the girl's drug fuelled mood swings. Finally, DJ Rashad remixes the now classic ‘Walk It Out’. It starts super minimal and pounding, just the vocal, a bass tone, and drums, chopped and looped, before the track opens out onto a lush funk break, giving it a whole new energy.