Unnayanaa & Pawas Collaborate To Blur House & Folktronica On ‘OMM’

The two house-heads, Bangalore-based Prashanth Pallemoni aka Unnayanaa and Berlin-based Pawas, have come together on the EP 'OMM' – but instead of creating a sum of their parts, they offer works that ultimately differ from any of their discography. Sure, there is Pawas' characteristic oomph-laden core-shaking drums, and the global influences of Unnayanaa in the form of Balafon (or its soundalike) flourishes and similarly purposed piano tinkles. But, contrary to the press note's suggestion, the 3-track release isn't a usual house take on African influences.

If anything, the pristine and serene foundational beds of Balafon on 'Oscillation' and the piano on 'Meditation' are glitched and charged through dub-style echoes to land more in the territory of folktronica, just delivered over the swagger of house's laidback four-to-the-floor. The melodic fragments are layered so richly that they come together to make the work more texture-led than melody-led. The result is the best of both worlds: the club-friendly functionality of house with the far-reaching and refreshing sonic tapestry of folktronica. Even the punctuating 'Modulation' provides similar freshness but with a minimal approach as the layers strip to let the basslines and groove get deeper.

Check out the EP 'OMM', released via Pawas' Masala Movement, below and follow Unnayanaa and Pawas for more information.