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The German label Mole Listening Pearls has emerged in recent years as one of the most interesting labels in the downtempo scene. Among the leading artists are De-Phazz, Anima Sound System, Nor Elle, and naturally, the German duo Alphawezen, composed of Ernst Wawra and singer Asu Yalcindag.
With Ernst's electronic background (having previously created various projects ranging from techno to breakbeat) and Asu's soft voice, the duo offers a sound in classic Northern European style, avoiding the repetitiveness often found in the genre, instead surrounding it with a refined melodic taste typically French (also see the titles of their albums) and exploring other genres, underlining a decent versatility, which I believe is vital for the genre's survival.
If the analog idm of "Wald 1" seems a simplified version of early Boards Of Canada, the solemn trip hop of "Into The Star" mimics the 90s Bristol scene. "Gai Soleil", "4043" and "System 1" explore techno/dub territories and glitchdark arrangements that almost clash with the rest of the work (which focuses more on finding a light lounge tune rather than creating technical-stylistic acrobatics, not uncommon in the MLP catalog). The stunning "Frost" with its dual nature (a slow, laid-back start, evolving into d'n'b with a massive break) showcases the duo’s more fervent side; watch the video, it's amazing! "Electricity Drive" is undoubtedly the standout track of the platter: Asu's vocals, now robotic vocoderized now cloying, seem comfortable moving over a powerful, complex, and broken beat; the contrast is intriguing!
The ambient frescoes of "U Won't Get That From Me" and "Après Midi" appear rather anachronistic, yet do not tarnish an album that hasn’t yet achieved the sonic cleanliness of its sequel "En Passant," but overall can be considered well-produced and pleasant to listen to. After all, this is what Mole Listening Pearls demands: simple records with a slight pop aftertaste, an almost immediate impact, with the usual touch of class typical of downtempo but with an eye on original ideas. It's not uncommon to also encounter records with sounds far removed from the latter (house, drum'n'bass, jazz, etc.), without getting lost among sublabels and various divisions, here Ernst & Asu do somewhat the same. Enthusiasts of the genre will appreciate it. (3.5)
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