Kiwi – Guanako Haka EP [Days in Being Wild WILD020] (2013)

We knew of Kiwi as a DJ through the Durrr parties, but were properly introduced to his music when Daniel Avery sent it to us and immediately fell in love with it.

South London based Kiwi (Alex Warren) has pulled all the stops out over the last 6 months. With releases lined up on Kitsuné, Needwant and Deep Shit as well as on our humble outfit. As a resident at the Nest in Dalston he has extended his monthly headline slot to sprawling four-hour Dj sets and this summer see’s Kiwi hitting various places across Europe, including his first appearance in Ibiza and a number of festival appearances including the Bugged Out Stage at Field Day and Stop Making Sense festival.

Kiwi has managed to create a real unique sound and vibe by mixing ingredients of all the genre he loves, from disco, funk and techno.

EP opener, “Guanako Haka”, is a monster of slow mo techno, hypnotic and subtly building up over 6 minutes with whispered vocals and electro sequences interlaced over a seriously solid groove.

“Bengal” starts like a Kraftwerk record circa Autobahn period, with motorik synth cycling endlessly. A 80’s synth pad and some 90’s house piano stab finish to confuse you: ” but when was this record made?”
The movement within the track, and evolution of each synth line keep you on the edge when finally some Rhodes chords and dreamy patterns enrich this epic, yet intimate piece of cosmic electronica.

Back to to the dance floor with last track on the EP . “Chiroptera”, with its very strong house vibe and old school drum rolls cascading over a deep bass, reminds us of It’s a Fine Line at their finest, both playful and retro.
Synths and drums play question / answer games and a strange dreamy melody escaped from a 80’s sci-fi movie crossed the track all the way through. Kiwi even managed to stick in a breakdown that flirts with deep house.

And that’s the beauty of that EP. So many references, so many genre quoted over three tracks without falling into cliché or vulgarisation.
Kiwi that can showcase a real love of dance music in all its ramifications.
This is a modern record that knows where it comes from, is conscious of its roots but manages to stay relevant while nodding at everything that inspired it and made it what it is.