One of the inherent difficulties with music writing in the post-everything landscape is that artist comparisons have become one of the most reliable ways to describe producers’ sounds. This is pretty sticky territory – comparisons certainly make it easier to pin down elements of a song that don’t translate well into words, but on the other hand they can easily suggest imitation instead of similarity. Fortunately, though, this kind of unintended implication doesn’t hold true for hyped Welsh newcomer Ifan Dafydd, whose productions have already generated enough James Blake comparisons to fill the quota for 2012. To be fair, Dafydd’s sound is remarkably similarly to Blake’s – or, as Sonic Router more accurately pointed out, Blake’s white label remix alias, Harmonimix. But to describe his sound in terms of Blake’s sound would be a huge misstep, especially considering the extent to which “James Blake” has been misused and abused as an empty catchall signifier over the past year. On January 30, Dafydd’s new single “Treehouse” / “To Me” will be released on Push & Run, the same imprint that released his impressive white label “No Good” / “Miranda” last summer.
“Treehouse” opens with those oh-so-familiar-and-beloved vintage organ chords, equal parts melancholy and emotionally-stirring, that serve as the backbone of the dynamic, exploratory track. Dafydd moves gracefully through different microcosmic spaces, incorporating free-spirited piano riffs throughout the track for some serious feel good vibes. The track swells and peaks with rich, warm synths that beautifully offset the vocal sample “I will never change the world,” while a loose-limbed rhythm provides the perfect amount of energy and motion. On the B-side, “To Me” is a sprawling production that finds Dafydd branching off into moody, slow-mo house territory. Centered around classical piano loops, the track slowly builds with a thick atmosphere of vocal snippets, distorted synth tones, and breakbeat-leaning percussion that showcase Dafydd’s inimitable control over the stereo field. The production truly shines when cinematic strings come in around the four minute mark and tie everything together without taking the classical instrumentation too far. The far-too-brief release definitely left us wanting more from this exciting new producer, so check out the previews below and pick it up from your favorite retailer at the end of the month. And one more thing: let’s be done with the James Blake comparisons already.
Ifan Dafydd – Treehouse / To Me – PAR 4 by pushandrun
Ifan Dafydd – Treehouse / To Me out on Push & Run January 30 (vinyl) and February 6 (digital)
