- Shed at his most vulnerable.
- Of all René Pawlowitz's aliases, WAX may be the most divisive. I say this as a dyed-in-the-wool evangelical. From the jungle madness of Hoover1 to the austere techno of EQD, nothing hits quite like one of those signature Pawlowitz kick drums underneath a melody as wistful as it is playful. But following a string of killer, dub-inflected 12-inches in the late '00s and early 2010s, his releases as WAX have been slightly uneven. He had one of his biggest hits under the alias, but also moments where things can start to feel a little generic. Fresh off the heels of his recent Shed LP, the prolific Pawlowitz is now releasing his 9th 12-inch as WAX and, I'm happy to report that both tracks sit in the former camp.
90009 is a refinement of ideas he started sketching on 2022's 80008. The B-side on that record might have been the first time in the Pawlowitz back catalog where an adjective like "dainty" or "gentle" feels appropriate. There's an even more gossamer-like quality to "90009A." Sure, the grumble in the bass and drums keeps it locked into a functional groove, but the melody is so faint it reminds me of a vintage Black Jazz Consortium release. The start of "90009B" hits harder, recalling the sunnier house Pawlowitz makes as Head High. As it chugs along, though, the reverb-drenched chords add a dubby softness. It's a poignant interplay that feels ephemeral as the melody moves in and out of focus, like the unexpected blossoms of a cherry tree early in the spring. Shed's music has always been emotional, but under his WAX alias, he's becoming almost vulnerable.