TAU welcomes a formidable UK talent to the label with its latest release. Sahar brings a distinct flavour, for all the TAU connoisseurs, blending melodic elements with hints of rave to cultivate a thoroughly captivating sound. This has been demonstrated through releases on influential labels such as Exit Strategy, Isolate, and Sum Over Histories. Now he’s joined the TAU family for this latest five-track excursion, called ‘Shakedown.’

From the get go, it’s enchanting atmospherics, exquisite percussion and high-quality sound design. The title track epitomizes Sahar’s polished, yet emotive approach. Warped vocals appear intermittently during the first part of this track, eventually coming to the surface after the breakdown. The mystical atmosphere complements the distorted vocal, which repeats a catchy verse. Mesmerising.

‘Battery Operated’ has a solid ‘pump’ energy, which undulates in the low end, while a hypnotic melody performs an alluring dance. The tension steadily builds, Sahar keeping it very much considered with his approach. Patiently driving the energy level up, until we reach a crescendo at the breakdown. His distinct sound is very evident on this one, with a cacophony of unusual effects in the second half that add a very definitive character to his music.

Up next ‘Drive’ rolls out with a sultry groove, bound to have your hips shimmying from side to side. The seductive feeling permeates through this cut, with a foreboding atmosphere creeping as it progresses. Sahar’s ability to construct tracks that have a strong narrative can be heard very clearly here, as ‘Drive’ shifts and evolves from minute to minute. At its heart, that contagious groove keeps things moving along nicely.

Four tracks in and it’s ‘Through The Gate’ that takes us closer to the EP’s finale. This one is another wonderfully captivating display of Sahar’s ability to create unusual, yet compelling sounds. From the percussion to the multitude of effects that pepper this cut, there’s a clear distinction from a lot of the overused sounds in electronic music. The hypnotic rhythm keeps you gripped, while the whimsical sound design is sure to provoke joy and wonder on the dance floor.

Lastly, we have ‘Checkwoin,’ a solid cut that works from a brooding groove. This is one of those tracks that sounds deceptively simple, but when you listen closely, you can hear that there’s a lot going on. Here Sahar builds around a repetitive core to engage the listener. Once you’re locked in, there’s no relent… A prime example of the power of repetition in electronic music.