Conformist ft H O R S E S – Heddiw (2022)
Electronic producer Conformist has teamed up with the duo H O R S E S to create a single that mashes electronica with some ominous post-punk tones. ‘Heddiw’ is an inventive track that uses an infusion of ominous vocals from the gloom wave duo woven into the haunted beats and blips of avant-garde electronic music. A truly unique musical offering, the artists sprinkle one other unique touch to take the song to another level and that is the Welsh language lyrics.
The collaboration was forged in the depths of lockdown, with this track crafted through audio file exchanges over WhatsApp. While this is a standalone single, it does offer a hint of what is hopefully the beginning of a very interesting collaborative effort. Between the respected skills of Conformist and the darkened music of H O R S E S, this single is sure to have you hooked from start to finish.
‘Heddiw’ uses a rather dark and ominous opening that is expansive and rushing to grab your attention. This rather intense sweep drops you into an electronic soundscape that is highly experimental in its arrangement. The beats slam against the ground while the electronic blips and beeps offer an off-kilter movement that constantly keeps you guessing what will happen. Through all of this, there is a duality in feeling as the electronic tones bring a lighter feeling while the lower levels are all creeping darkness. As you traverse the intense soundscape, you constantly feel the need to look over your shoulder as the haunting darkness creeps up your spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. The clash of dark wave and electronica is fantastic as you are constantly pushed forward while feeling the pressure of the darkness. This is an undeniably unique sound that highlights the best elements of Conformist and H O R S E S.
While the melody has you tensing against the darkness and bouncing off the electronic tones, the vocals bring their own form of haunting to the track. As they come in rather late, the melody gets the chance to cement its flows, only to be washed with the ominous call from the nether that is the vocals. The use of Welsh language lyrics adds to the mysticism of the single like you are walking the line between reality and the otherworldly. The call of the vocals has a gloomy vibe that is wonderful as it pulls you closer, but carries a cautious edge that warns you not to fall too deeply under its spell.
Through the collaborative efforts of Conformist and H O R S E S, ‘Heddiw’ pulls you into an ominous soundscape where you are propelled by the experimental electronic tones. There is a hint of darkness from the start that weaves beneath the slightly off-kilter electronic tones. The Welsh language vocals add a mystic vibe like a voice calling to you from another world.
Find out more about Conformist on his website, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
