with production credits for pan, ppu, and future times, it’s been a busy year for dawit eklund, winding up to this fully-fledged debut on the label he co-founded. litchi juice is funk-laced ‘gully club music’, channelling inspiration from theo and pepe. on the flip, the psychedelic menace of lies are chic is influenced heavily by herbie hancock and tony allen records. ace, warmly recommended.

on tuff ruff the ethiopian producer blends cultural vocals and swirling synths with a masenqo lute, giving the track its worldly flair. the composition - a seifu-described mix of ethiopian folk and uk garage, doesnt feel like a dance song theres an ancestral vibe at work, something richer than the typical oontz oontz youd hear in nightclubs. as a result, tuff ruff isnt weird at all. just approach it with an open mind.