Helena Hauff // Qualm (Ninja Tune)


#1


#2

Aside from a track here or there, her studio output has never blown me away. Seeing her DJ is another story though, absolute force of nature but very fun as well. Basically: I’m hoping this album is the one for me. Not that anything she’s put out has been bad, just there is a massive difference of my enjoyment of her sets and my enjoyment of her productions. I want her to win.


#3

agreed with @repentxnce above, I have not heard the album, so this post is submitted without comment


#4

Yeah, I find she has a particular knack for mixing electro that makes it more engaging than I’d usually find it for sure. When she played here last month I loved that she just dove right into the hard stuff with no apologies.


#5

interested to hear what direction she goes this time, cos the last album was a downtempo, “home listening” vibe – John Carpenter/Vangelis etc. at the time i was a bit disappointed cos those early tapes she did seemed way more in line with her attitude as a DJ, more splattery and visceral.

the track titles are good at least!


#6

From the previews on Soundcloud it seems like more home listening. The press release says there are some bangers in there though, so who knows?


#7

re: the 'have you seen it" EP she released on Ninja Tune - Does anyone find something weird about the production on it? Any time i listen, any time a track from it comes on in a mix, it just sounds really wrong. Very compressed or something? I don’t have enough expertise to say what it is exactly.


#8

What are people saying on this? It’s way more low key than I was expecting, but I quite like it. It picks up a bit of steam in the second half. My overall opinion that she absolutely slays as a DJ but her productions (for the most part) aren’t for me, hasn’t really changed though. The album lacks a standout hit like Spur or C45p. Not that every album really needs a hit, but just seems weird for I think what was supposed to be her “break out” on Ninja Tune.


#9

I really enjoyed the whole record, definitely went a few more directions than the initial few tracks hinted at. Lots of distressed electro and some weirder synth jams!


#10

needed a few listens but i’m starting to dig it now. in her own words, “it’s raw”. big up Helena!


#11

Ninja Tune is a label I love diving into every now and then. I recently checked in and went for this album. Really loving the grit on it. Raw and industrial. I feel like I’m dancing in a club soaked to the knees in a chemical bath.