- DJ Plead turns low-key techno into high-key bassweight.
- Dauwd Al Hilali has frequented post-dubstep circles since making a name for himself with gorgeous house melodies that leave an enchanting, dubby feeling in their wake. Fast forward a decade, and Al Hilali runs his own label Psssh Records alongside friend and agent Dave Redmond. The most recent offering, PSSSH 003x, is a remix pack of the imprint's third release (a collection of low-key stunning Dauwd originals), with well-considered reworks from DJ Plead, Huerta and Aubrey.
DJ Plead's flip of "The Yuzer" is the standout. Where the original track was an eyes-down rhythmic heater, anchored by a charging club bassline, subdued bongo drums and whooshing synth flourishes, Plead makes things feel more open-ended. He strips away the driving force—the bassline—and replaces it with a heavier but much more spacious bass weight. The drums are tighter, and while the BPM remains locked at 138, things feel much slower and more atmospheric. The results are powerful and feel like peak-time DMZ material that wouldn't be out of place in a Mala set. In both forms, "The Yuzer" has a sense of immediacy and space often missed on contemporary dance floors.