After creating a couple of cracking EPs for Public Possession, dddwy, have now teamed up with Test Pressing. Beaming Backwards finds the South London-based duo of Ronan MT, aka Inner Totality, and Naomi Pieris, aka nangi, serving up 4 fresh tracks, and fine honing their sonic aesthetic. Let’s get this straight, the titular number is fucking great. Very likely to appear in plenty of end-of-year lists. Opening with Naomi’s gated ethereal vocals, the pair introduce a pumping beat to produce a piece of lively, loved-up dance floor psychedelia. Trippy, but poppy and totally accessible, there’s something of Monsoon’s swirling, spiritual, devotional dervish, and also strong early William Orbit / Torch Song vibes. Flashing back to the properly eclectic sound of the original Balearic Beat transported to London and translated via the DJ sets of Andrew Weatherall. 

Stars, Stars starts with treated guitar, strange strumming. Its beats are still big, but the tempo slower, shuffling, and showing off their diversity, Ronan and Naomi now, all the while dancing, slot in “shoegaze-adjacent” references, such as The Cocteau Twins, Pale Saints, and MBV. The guitar washed with Robin Guthrie-esque reverb. The voices, echoed, double, triple tracked resulting in a sort of vapour trail effect.

Peak Smile, perhaps the clue’s in the title, is more pounding, more progressive house, more Underworld-like. Rushing, racing, darting between dynamic, diverting, rhythmic details. Topped by more soaring, soothing, celestial sighs. 

Heuldro’r Haf is the EP’s chilled, “ambient” closer. Another kinda curveball, it begins as a bit of classical minimalism, “systems music”, care of improvised repeats and counterpoint from Magdalena McLean, on violin, and Chris Mayall’s piano. It ends up part peaceful prog rock ballad, part fluttering, electronic take on ECM’s “fourth world” jazz. Its tempo reduced to a relaxed, reassuring, resting heartbeat.

ddwy’s Beaming Backwards can be ordered directly from Test Pressing.