- Cold, hard electro—in other words, classic Hauff.
- Helena Hauff is often described as uncompromising. She's become one of Europe's most cherished techno selectors through patience and refinement, rather than adapting to trends. Developments in techno over the last five years have certainly been influenced by her, and in turn contributed to her popularity. The renewed interest in electro is the most obvious example. The same goes for the revival of EBM. But her interest in these sounds predates recent trends.
It's hard to criticize Hauff for playing to her strengths by making more tracks in the raw electro mould she's known for. Loyalty to her own sound is the reason she's so celebrated, and over the years she's shown a knack for making cold, hard, gratifying machine music. Living With Ants, her first full release on her Return To Disorder label, marks a return to direct dance floor electro after last year's more challenging Qualm album.
"Catso" is Detroit-leaning and groovy, with hints of the great melody writing that made 2015's Discreet Desires LP stand out. The synths on "Why Look At Animals" and "The Brush" give them a Germanic, industrial feel. The EP's climactic moment comes on "Slim Filter," which features a wonderfully lairy bassline that enters halfway and will surely catch any dance floor off guard. It's Hauff doing what she does best.
TracklistA1 Catso
A1 Why Look At Animals
B1 The Brush
B2 Slim Filter