- Lively and percussive, Homecoming is a rowdy homage to the UK, Pakistan and a few places in between.
- Ahad Elley's latest EP was written to celebrate his first trip back to Pakistan in over a decade. As anyone who's been away from a place long enough will attest, returns always come with change. Listening to "Piano Skank," it sounds like Elley is ready to show off a few new tricks. It's a punishing track that melds techno and UK funky, its ferocious snares accented by the occasional gun cock. But "Piano Skank" is also surprisingly nimble, thanks to the traditional dhol drum he works into a competing rhythmic loop. All four tracks on Homecoming operate on a similar level, showcasing a wide cross-section of UK dance music past and present, while tipping Elley's hat to his Pakistani roots.
With Homecoming, Elley uses drum programming as a tool to explore the idea of home. On "Peak," for example, the hand drum lines wouldn't sound out of place at a Pakistani wedding—the setting where Elley first learned about rhythm—while the bassline and ricocheting synthline reference contemporary UK techno. But he also uses rhythm to touch on more far-flung sounds. The opener "Rainfall," a collaboration with South African vocalist Mxshi Mo, is a gqom track that would get the bride and groom airborne with its lightning fast hand drums.
Homecoming also works across eras: "Spaceship" is the record's most memorable track, both futuristic and nostalgic. It's a throwback to the days when dubstep, garage and grime were all fighting for air. The high-end has a whiff of early Tempa or Big Apple, while the drums carry the syncopated swing of UK funky, hitting with such leaden force they sound like they might sink right off the Ableton grid.
Working with all these influences, Elley nods to his larger community, something that's clearly important to the UK artist. His ongoing party with Naina Sethi, No ID, was one of the three crews to help launch the South Asian-focused Dialed In festival, while his More Time label has consistently championed producers from across the diaspora. When Vogue India features you in an article called, "A new crop of South Asians is redefining the UK's underground music scene," it's safe to say that your work is starting to receive the recognition it deserves. Homecoming feels rightly celebratory. It's not just Elley returning home—he's bringing the rest of us with him.
Tracklist01. Rainfall feat. Mxshi Mo
02. Piano Skank
03. Spaceship
04. Peak