Primal Wakin are a relatively new duo on the Melodic Techno scene, although judging by the quality of their debut release – the Primal Wakin Renaissance EP – it seems as though they’re going to be ones to watch over the next few months. The musicians behind the project are Ludovic Hautevelle (Wakin) and Ludovic Primat (PrimaL), who met at a charity event in 2019 and have since developed a collaborative method of writing songs that focuses on improvisation and the concept of artistic freedom.
The Primal Wakin Renaissance EP, meanwhile, comprises four tracks written with these values in mind: Too Late To Wait, Savukoski, In Charles’ Memory and Ignis. In Charles’ Memory has been selected for a standalone release in order to provide a taster of the EP’s sound, although the other three tracks are a little less conventional and therefore arguably represent Primal Wakin’s artistic mindset a little better.
The first track, Too Late To Wait, combines delicately chiming synths with low, sweeping bass to create what the artists describe as “a rich and warm atmosphere”, whilst its flourishes of piano add that little bit of extra brightness to balance out the heavy bass tone. Savukoski is also a pleasant, warming track to listen to, its bright, positive melodies and underlying feeling of anticipation evoking a long journey to a place you are very much looking forward to arriving at. Finally there’s Ignis, a much slower, more tender moment that features the impassioned, evocative voice of Mathilde, who provides some motivational spoken-word parts towards the end of the track. The comforting, delicate positivity of this track is also an inspired choice on which to end the Primal Wakin Renaissance EP, providing a satisfying finish to the release that leaves you contemplating the music you just heard. In fact, ‘contemplative’ is probably the most apt word available to describe the music made by this new duo – it might be instrumental, but when the music is as rich and evocative as the four tracks on this EP, sometimes no words are needed.
