Blawan today releases his hotly anticipated BouQ EP via XL Recording. The four-track project is his third on the label, following on from 2023’s critically acclaimed Dismantled Into Juice EP (“dazzling… part of a long, proud tradition of UK club tracks that turn the dancefloor on its ear” – Pitchfork) and Woke Up Right Handed (“blinding in its brilliance, packaging everything great about each era of Blawan into five blissfully bizarre tracks” – Resident Advisor).
Blawan returns once again to side-step expectations with BouQ, an EP that melds his vocal with disorientating, menacing electronic experimentation. Having previewed the EP during recent DJ sets (including his curated stage at Draaimolen and Overmono’s Pure Devotion), Blawan previously released the EP digitally, today comes the release of the 12”. The first track ‘Fires’ – a standout for DJs like Four Tet, Skrillex, and Joy Orbison – was released last month, offering fans a preview of the record’s expansive sound. Out now, BouQ is set to further cement Blawan’s reputation as a truly singular talent.
PRAISE OF BLAWAN:
“Every Blawan record in recent memory has been eye-opening, but this one is blinding in its brilliance, packaging everything great about each era of Blawan into five blissfully bizarre tracks.” – Resident Advisor
“Blawan breaks the mold again, letting his unbridled knack for experimentation take the wheel” – Beatportal
“It takes time, vision and financial security to find time to create something truly astounding these days, and Blawan’s got it all.” – The Quietus
“a producer at the very top of his game right now.” – The Quietus
“Breaking new ground once more, the dynamic production is laced with colour, but there’s a dogged subtlety in there, too. At once familiar while also stepping into new ground, ‘Toast’ is Blawan at his most engaging, and yet also unexpected.” – CLASH
“a sound that Roberts has been fastidiously perfecting for a decade, pushing himself into new realms, losing himself in modular synthesis without ever sacrificing soul for science.” – The FACE
Blawan kicks off 2025 with an ICONS mix for BBC Radio 6 Music!
The mix aired today (31st January) at 12pm UK and is the first ICONS Mix of 2025. Listen back here.
Elsewhere on BBC Radio 1, Benji B spun ‘BouQ’ on his most recent show – listen back here from 1:28:31.
The one and only Bjork played ‘Done Eclipse’ at her DJ set in London – you can see some fan footage here. As well, our very own Joy Orbison spun ‘Fires’ at both of his sold-out headline shows at EartH in November – also footage here.
Blawan
BouQ EP 12′
XL Recordings
Friday 14 February 2025
Tracklist:
- NPCs Making Hot Dinner
- Fires
- Done Eclipse
- BouQ
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