Helena Hauff - Qualm

Helena Hauff

Qualm

2018

Spotify

A lot of things masquerade as techno. The terms has been used for any beat that is electronic not really taking into consideration the elements that truly make something "techno". I'm speaking more to the EDM faithful who often conflate the differences between deadmau5 and David Guetta. Helena Hauff however understands those subtleties and that is what makes this sparse messy album so very techno. The first thing you notice is the distorted nature of the record. ON the albums opener "Barrow Boot BOys" the bass is blown out and the drums sound like shit making you think that maybe your headphones or speakers have finally blown. This aesthetic never leaves the album which should make it feel awkward and bad sounding, but the opposite is the case. This sound transports you to the dark club, with speakers barely hanging on to what the DJ is putting on the decks. It can at times sound like you are still hearing the music in the main room while you duck out to the bathroom, but god damn does it work. It's such a messy aggressive sound it just puts you right into a techno head space. It's about exploring where the bleeps, blops and blown out bass can take you. It is hypnotizing the way the beats pull you in, lulling you with repetition then changing gears to blow your mind. "Entropy Created You and Me" creates this almost snythwave soundscape that is put through a distortion filter, it is a bit annoying in the middle but reaches a wonderfully rich conclusion. 

It's at this point that the album starts to shift into it's other movements. "Fag Butts in the Fire Bucket" rounds out at more ambient zone while "Hyper-Intelligent Genetically Enriched Cyborg" dives into the acid house sound. IN this section the air gets a bit thicker like you are moving through a sludge, but in a good way? It's sometimes odd to reflect on the vibe of this record because it is darker and murky but also incredibly enjoyable. "The Smell of Suds and Steel" even sounds ominous in name alone, but then the track is this acid inspired almost romp. The music is dark but you have a smile on your face the entire time. The way Hauff is able to shift between techno repetition and soaring electronics is really quite wonderful. All the genres she explores are certainly retro, but she finds a way to make them feel modern and fresh. Even "No Quieres" which is classic 808 music manages to be just as exciting and new as everything else. Qualm is a real achievement and a record that deserves much more attention than it is getting. Don't sleep. 

8.5 out of 10