In the midst of what he describes as an “EDM barfsplosion,” Dan Snaith is keeping his wits about him. Club music is currently in overdrive, dragging along with it a throng of strung-out young adults who care more about the drugs than the music. Snaith has experienced this as a DJ and a music-lover. His response (aside from a wonderfully articulated letter) comes as Daphni, a pseudonym for his instrumental EDM project. The first listen off of his debut JIAOLONG, due in October, is “Ye Ye,” an undemonstrative, 4/4 track that transcribes Snaith’s words from the page to your headphones. Squiggly video game sounds and a toppling low register dominate the track’s six minutes, emitting magnetic pulses for your head, hands and feet. “Ye Ye” demands context, but it never loses sight of the fact that club music can be both a vessel for creativity and a lot of fun at the same time.
JIAOLONG is out October 16th in the U.S. and Canada via Merge/Jiaolong, and October 9 digitally. It will see a release in Europe and Australia on October 8th via Jiaolong, and on October 3rd in Japan via Hostess/Jiaolong.
