Kiss My Culture

Review: Has’ Senza EP

The man with many hats (sometimes literally) has rekindled his production itch since his debut album Ten Kingdoms manifested from placement in digital shelves to last year’s Juice Award for Best Electronic Dance Music Producer. Senza didn’t lose much of what Has seemingly set out to do with his album -which is to release his own music (his first foray in a decade long career). But what his EP does that his album does not, is that it subtly grows on you like a pleasurable after-taste that refuses to leave.

Discretion, subversion and inexplicable are the most descriptive terms that will be thrown around in the room while the 6-track EP runs through the speakers. Albeit 3 versions of the title track (including Pocket Magik’s remix and reprise touches), each one represents its own story. It doesn’t end with an immediate justification to what it means to this listener, but it unveils itself with every listen.

The original piece on “Senza” sets this motion in place. Minimal scoured beats riddled with dribbles of bass watermarks this tune. While it is paced accordingly, the atmospheric synths and twinkling keys gives the piece its subtle hues. And it is with this play that Has found the notes to tell his story.

In Pocket Magik’s remix of “Senza”, they basically flipped the whole structure around. Dieting out the original beats and basslines on a softer scale, they’ve instead brought forward Has’ melodies as the primary source of inspiration and opened with keys leading the listener on. While the original’s breakdown rested on the later part of the track, Pocket Magik broke it down almost immediately -exposing a greater value to the melodies. This revealed its story and this was what “Senza” truly was.

The reprise version strips “Senza” naked. Here is the core of the track.

But while you listen to it (all 3 versions) again, what you thought you knew about the piece drastically changes. And it reveals itself to a point that even if you’ve heard it a hundred times, the only take-away you’ll get is a poignant reminder of the melody but never the full story. There’s always more with every listen.

While “Senza” was endearing and rather uplifting, “Warriors” sets a darker tone. The minimal dubstep piece evokes a sense of desperation in an environment of self-discovery. It seems that at this point, Has had too much going on in his head. This could be the sound of the noise being forced to silence. A weary and broody trip into the depths of its very own struggles.

“Get Down” sounds very much like pieces of Has’ debut album. Late breakdown and twinkling strings only got it as far as its sporadic melodic elements peeks through. “Omar Souleyman” had a very tribal, almost Mediterranean feel to it. Blame it on the horns, but the 3rd quarter build up stood out really well.

Has wasn’t finding his “sound” on this EP. It seems to have morphed into a room where he could just express himself. Though darker and grittier, the exposition gives way to a telling tale of what Has couldn’t say musically. But perhaps this could break his shell, and soon the musical ingenuity that showed its colors on Senza could be fully unleashed in his next release.

Senza is now available on Beatport.