Axel Haube makes his debut on Petit Matin, the label founded by Luna Semara and Agatha Pher. He provides 3 new tracks and gets a remix treatment by Brina Knauss.

The title track ‘Ashes’ is a cool, loose cut that sees Axel Haube take a deft sidestep from the usual tech house setup. From the atmospheric haze of its go-slow opening, the track breaks into a delicious, snapped beat, effortlessly rhythmic with just a twist of 90s garage. On vocals, Running Pine is serene, a cold-water current through the shifting beats. Soulful and spliced with heavier segments, Ashes leans and lilts with easy gravity.

Replacing the misted vocals with a crisp, punching bass kick, Brina Knauss’ remix puts a sharper spin on ‘Ashes’. Under her hand, the energy is teased away from the inward bent of the original towards a hooky, movement-oriented beat; more club-focused, though still very much the blue end of the spectrum. A deep rumble beneath the visible mechanics is just perceptible; a vast and sub-surface vibration like a strange, cosmic engine. All-out contrasts are smoothed into a leveller ground, swept through with shadows.

The second track ‘Lightning’ is a crushed-solid track with the impact of a balled fist, a benign force channelled into rhythm – one to grab you by the shoulders and set your pulse in motion with reverb. Broodier, more glowering than its sisters on the EP, ‘Lightning’ seems to draw strength from its core. Wrapped around a focused, driving beat, subtle forms bubble up from below, a pattern of dark colours just distinguishable. Stabs grow brasher and brighter, like movement extending out to the limbs, always rooted and locked to the deep and muscular centre.

Kicking resilience, the last track ‘Revolve’ jumps in with no half-measures: wubby synth overlaid with scatty snares, dead-set and full to the brim with broad, bold strokes. Near monochrome to start with, the beats melt into vibrant puddles of colour before plunging head-first into a strong, compelling groove that shakes the track along with infectious energy. Chewy arps are satisfying, every element tight and resolute. As if in anticipation of its setting, Revolve conjures the vast dark spaces of a warehouse, massive enough to fill every corner, resounding in steel beams.

You can now listen to the full premiere of Brina Knauss’ remix exclusively on When We Dip. Enjoy!

Release Date: October 28th, 2022. Buy Here

Brina Knauss: Facebook // SoundCloud
Axel Haube: Facebook // SoundCloud
Petit Matin: Instagram // SoundCloud