Hudson Mohawke - Polyfolk Dance

Hudson Mohawke’s debut EP on the famous Warp label is a mind bending calling card to the elite level of leftfield electronica. The 22 year old Glaswegian has pricked ears across the globe with a slice of production that invites comparison to the likes of Flying Lotus, Aphex Twin, Madlib, and Coldcut.

Opening track Polkadot Blues contains a staccato swagger masquerading as a hip hop beat. The cut-up vocals and twisted samples overwhelm at first but become clearer on repeated listens. Monde continues this apprehensive theme where drums hits occur where you least expect them and the rug is constantly pulled out from under you. Simple, cute, almost joyful melodies float on an ever-changing bed of meandering beats.

Overnight is my fave track on the EP where the chopped female vocal sample is centre stage in a dramatic soundscape. A passionate rave emotion is espoused over a rolling 140bpm dubstep rhythm. Speed Stick contains a wobbly platform of synth sounds to trip over. Computer game effects and dusty vinyl crackles contribute to the madness. Velvet Peel has another cheeky vocal snippet multi-layered into a future-thinking chipmunk funk. Yonard overdoes everything that the rest of tracks contain and mashes them into a wall of sound tough to penetrate.

Polyfolk Dance issues a challenge to convention as it dares to defy genre description. The ideas presented mark Hudson Mohawke high on the list as one to watch. His production skills feel innovative and slap-dash in equal amounts. The tracks are short, stunning, and demand repeated listens, almost like an entree that you wish was a main course. And the main course is coming – HudMo’s debut LP is slated for late 2009. Stay tuned.