Idd Aziz, Aiwaska – At Night / EXP95

Taking a little flavour from the world of afro house but infusing it with more of a rolling groove than a tribal, drum-focused rhythm, its a track thats dying to be heard at festivals and open-air dancefloors. Centred around a hypnotic African vocal refrain by Idd Aziz, the track builds in beautifully gradual fashion, with nods to early 90s ambient house in its atmospheric collage of sounds.

A stuttering synth rhythm sets the tone over a chunky beat as the track begins, with the vocal soon teased in looping fashion and adding a heady feel. The infectiously rolling bassline groove soon gets down to business. Subtle percussive additions build the groove, as do shimmering, morphing electronic motifs that weave in and out of the track. The vocal begins to reveal more of itself, and the arrangement strips back down to just kick, bass, vocals and synth with a real intensity. The vocals become more incessant and insistent as the track begins to slowly build again until were at a dizzying fever pitch.

No big hooks; no overblown theatrics; just a very well-crafted, slow-burning journey of a track. Aiwaska, we salute you!//