- An unassuming but epic emo anthem for our times.
- Is it trite to mention chemically-induced states in electronic music writing? In recent years, the glut of serotonin-deprived brains has infiltrated the traditionally hedonistic space of the club with sadboi aesthetics, incidentally producing some of the prettiest music around. Hajj is one of the trend's main proponents in France, and he finds a suitable home on Andrew Lyster's YOUTH label, whose rather rowdy releases conceal the latent emo sensibilities that come to life on "Drag Me Into The Void."
From the title itself to the footsteps-in-the-wind outro (and of course, a mournful vocal sample), Hajj fully indulges these tendencies." There's something disarmingly honest and vulnerable about "Drag Me Into The Void," which mitigates whatever bombast that might have burdened the layers of billowing sighs otherwise. These gossamer synths could be lifted from "Papua New Guinea" or "Raincry," two standout moments of a bygone progressive house era that brought about its fair share of ham-fisted attempts at stateliness. Not so here: with his Burial-meets-prog hymn, Hajj has crafted an unassuming anthem for the slightly obnoxious, main character syndrome-suffering teenager that lies in all of us. "Drag Me Into The Void" harnesses those primal, universal feelings and sculpts them into a confidence, as though it was addressed to you exclusively.