‘New Music Monday’ has long been a staple at the Windmill, giving countless up-and-coming artists a platform to thrive. Some of the alumni include Black Fondu, The Orchestra (For Now) and Ebbb. Another name to add to that list is wing!, who have just released their debut project ‘MISSED IT JUST THE ONCE’.
The EP was conceived by producer Adam Swan over the course of this year and already shows the knack and creativity he has. It opens with ‘Let The Rest Go’, built around a stop-start beat that anchors the track. As it loops, cold synths arrive to breathe life into the space, sketching a stark visual backdrop. The beat shifts between hi-hats and ride cymbals, layered with synths and keys, creating the feel of wandering through a desolate part of the city – one as vast as wing!’s home of London.
The following two tracks, ‘Out From Outer’ and ‘Pack It In’, carry that same desolate mood, recalling much of Burial’s ‘Untrue’. Like on that record, cold synths, eerie vocal samples and relaxed, downtempo beats conjure images of a city that seems alive yet strangely empty. Saxophone lines drift in and out, like music spilling from clubs you pass but never enter. ‘Pack It In’ leans hardest on sampling, weaving in female vocalisations that add another layer to the already dense mix. It builds and builds until it finally collapses, leaving just a single sample to fade out.
Closer ‘In a Second I Will Need a Second’ is a personal highlight. It’s the only track to feature drummer Joe Killick from wing!’s live band, and it stands apart from the rest. His jazzy, free-flowing style drives the track, giving it the feel of the band’s live sets.
Jazz and electronic music have long intersected, Squarepusher being a clear touchstone, and here they merge beautifully. The drums move freely against a lush synth backdrop, creating something you can sink into. It hints at what might come from the trio of Adam, Joe and bassist Kai Charlton, who together bring a unique angle to ambient, downtempo electronic music by combining it with the loose, freer elements of jazz.
This is only the beginning for wing!. As they continue to grow and explore, hopefully future releases will dive deeper into the individual styles of Joe and Kai. For now, though, ‘MISSED IT JUST THE ONCE’ is a fantastic debut, and one that certainly leaves an impression on the listener.
Words: Noelle Radewicz Photos: Cole Pemberton