West coast label Badman Studios have really made sure 2021 is to be their year throughout these first six months, upping their game with some unmissable releases from the likes of DJ Madd, Die By The Sword and Arkham Sound. Not only have they come through with an increase in consistency and higher quality material, label boss man Jason Vianna aka SKUGZ has been killing it with the live streams by showcasing some of the best material the label has to offer and other 140 favourites! The San Francisco label presents another high level project this week with a familiar face as the underrated Grawinkel returns with four fresh cuts in the form of ‘Nightwave‘ EP. With previous features on For The Heads and Sub Garden plus a host of self releases and remixes, I’ve always found the German producer’s sound to be so versatile and creative, so it’s great to see the Grawinkel name land on an active label like Badman Studios once again.
Grawinkel immediately hits warp speed on the opening title track ‘Nightwave‘, an interstellar combo of cosmic synth notes and dimension defying rhythms with the main focus on those chest rattling subs; a wavy bassline that consistently rumbles like the engine of a shuttle waiting to take flight. Next up is the lighter and somewhat friendlier ‘March‘, where chipper chimes flesh out wistful melodies, dancing over cool and calm 808s. However something quite melancholic sits beneath, a vibe that becomes more conspicuous the deeper into the EP we go.
Similarly stripped back, Granwinkel brings the persistent weight back on ‘Appa‘, with hard hitting subs doing the heavy lifting and drawn out flute notes carry the continuing pensiveness, which serves as a tantalizing appetiser to my absolute favourite of the four, ‘Rise‘. The finale is a twisted stomper with bottomless depth, Grawinkel lays it all on the line here, expressing his psychedelic inclinations and the most impressive, gnarliest side to his creativity.
‘Nightwave‘ EP is an enthralling listen, perfectly curated and one that noticeably grows in it’s ingenuity and indeed, it’s thematic melancholia. It’s yet another EP to feature on Badman Studios this year where it stands as the producer’s most impressive project so far and one that should not be left to become under appreciated. Grawinkel‘s sound is growing, don’t sleep and catch the wave!
‘Nightwave‘ EP is out 18/06/2021 and available to download from the Badman Studios Bandcamp.
Check out Grawinkel on Soundcloud and Instagram.
Check out Badman Studios on Soundcloud and Twitter.