Time Goes by Weval
Critically-acclaimed Dutch act Weval (AKA Harm Coolen and Merijn Scholte Albers) return to Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour with the announcement of forthcoming EP “Time Goes”, due out on the 29th April. The 4 track EP is a continuation from the electronic duo’s 2021 EP “Changed For The Better” which, in true Weval fashion, featured bold, beautifully composed melodies and songwriting.
Throughout “Time Goes” we hear similar features but with snippets of late 90’s inspired elements, pulling inspiration from genres such as trip hop and big beat, taking us on a journey that mixes a sense of nostalgia with a fresh, new approach. On lead single ‘Minute By Minute’, we hear chords that build with anticipation and hypnotic vocals, resulting in a nostalgically euphoric sound. “Inspiration for this track was the start of Underworlds biggest hit ‘Born Slippy’. We always wanted to hear the intro over and over again”.
Elsewhere on the record is EP opener ‘All Alone’ - an emotive post break-up track filled with Weval’s trademark warm synths. “It's a track made two weeks after a break up” they added, “we wanted to make a comforting track that sounds like a hug, knowing you are not the only one going through this”. ‘Time Goes’ follows, channelling iconic 90’s records, “we’re heavily inspired by electronic music of the late 90s. With ‘Time Goes’ it started as: can we record drums that sound like those records, without the use of samples? We spent a lot of time getting the drums right, together with the baseline”. And finally the powerful track ‘March On’ closes the EP on a high, consisting of a dark drumbeat and high energy rhythms - “this a song that doesn't hold back.
Recently released EP “Changed For The Better'' received support from the likes of The Vinyl Factory, Magnetic Mag, Alfitude and Northern Transmissions. In 2016 BBC Radio 1 invited Weval to perform live at Maida Vale for their Residency series alongside Moderat, Darkstar, Gold Panda, Jessy Lanza and AKASE. The duo also released their celebrated debut album “Weval” in 2016, followed by “The Weight” in 2019, with Pitchfork hailing the duo as “the next great crossover artists”, while Resident Advisor praised their “acute ear for melody and a skilled way with arrangement”. In 2017 their self-titled debut was also awarded Best Dance Album at the Edison of Awards in their native Holland. In addition to this, their music has been featured on Emmy winning show I May Destroy You.
On the road they’ve rocked stages with their five-piece band at a long list of prominent festivals and venues such as Primavera, Rock en Seine, DGTL Amsterdam, Gottwood and a sold out show at London’s Village Underground. In 2021 they played a 3 x sold out (due to covid rescheduling) show alongside Metropol Orkestra at Melkweg for Amsterdam Dance Event. After an enforced hiatus due to the pandemic the duo are excited to be heading out on tour again this year as part of a four-piece band, with headline shows across Europe and North America including stops at London’s Koko, Elsewhere in New York and a return to their hometown Amsterdam for a special performance at iconic venue Paradiso. They will also be stopping at Bonnaroo Festival alongside Flume, Disclosure and Marc Rebillet in the summer.
First meeting in 2010, Harm and Merijn formed their formidable creative alliance back in 2012 when they were both working in film - when Harm brought Merijn on board to assist with a music video for some friends in a band. They began experimenting together, enjoying the music production more than the film editing. Neither had experience of making music before forming Weval, so they have evolved organically together for the entire 9-year duration of their partnership. It’s an ongoing project that evolves naturally, each new release a learning experience that feeds back into their creative output.
“Time Goes” EP is due out on the 29th April on Technicolour.
Tracklist
| 1. | All Alone | 4:45 |
| 2. | Time Goes | 3:38 |
| 3. | Minute by Minute | 5:14 |
| 4. | March On | 4:37 |
