- Two delirious techno hip-house hybrids from the ever-expanding WTCHCRFT universe.
- Anthony McLean, AKA WTCHCRFT, dubs himself an "acid fiend, techno heathen" and "occasional rap producer." Before his acid obsession, the New York producer made hip-hop beats and produced for SoundCloud rappers, a period he's tried to shake off since. But on 1 4 U, his latest EP via Local Action's Clasico label, McLean is both the rapper and the producer.
There's not a lick of acid in earshot as McLean bounces through the title track: "Yeah / This one's for you / You got me stuck like glue / And every time you come around, you make me go coo coo / I'm telling you it's true / I love you girl," he chants over a booming kick and deliciously wonky bassline. This side of WTCHCRFT has surfaced before—back in 2022 on his Drugs Here EP—but on 1 4 U he doubles those efforts, penning two delirious, rap-inflected dance floor earworms.
Next to the freaky techno workout of "1 4 U," "What Do You Call a Flood?" brings the funk. It's cheeky and playful, thanks to a nimble melody line that recalls Duke's 1997 smash "So In Love With You." Just like the title track, the lyrics have staying power: it's easy to imagine dancers sassily mouthing, "You know I know you know my plan / Uh / Bring It back now," across the floor to each other, arms and waists bumping along to the bouncy drums underneath. McLean clearly knew he was onto something here—rather than bulking up the EP with more original material, he dishes out two instrumental versions. Sans lyrics, "What Do You Call a Flood" is little more than a groovy DJ tool, but "1 4 U" becomes a whole new beast, as cackling vocal samples and bleating stabs take centre stage. Without his acid wiggle, McLean unlocks a new zone on 1 4 U in the ever-expanding WTCHCRFT techno universe.
Tracklist01. 1 4 U
02. What Do You Call a Flood?
03. 1 4 U (Instrumental)
04. What Do You Call a Flood? (instrumental)