“Running Around (83)” finds Valya Ying-Li Hooi once again working with long-time collaborator, Tarquin Manek, who himself caused quite a stir as Static Cleaner Lost Reward and the recently repressed “Breathing Under Honey”. The new single takes that album’s experimental dub direction, and, if anything, dives even deeper. The main body of the track is an immersive vapour. A slow, slow steady, tech skanking, with rolling bass rumbling and percussion hitting in short, sharp delayed snaps and clicks. Matched with Hooi’s sweet, ethereal, soulful vocal, it makes for a seriously stoned shot of dream pop. 

A mix by the mighty Mad Professor adds a little light nyabinghi rattle and has the B-line growling, resisting, as sections of it are sucked backwards. The song is stripped back to only brief bursts, snatches that are sometimes, suddenly, locked in loops. 

Ulla E. Straus then radically re-imagines the track, employing woodwinds and acoustic piano to create a laid-back, lounge jazz ballad. Reducing the rhythm to a shuffle of brushed snares. Drenching everything in reverb, all fragile, elegant echo, and any reggae / roots influence far removed. 

Finally, in contrast, John T. Gast takes the tune to the other extreme. The 5 Gate Temple founder delivering an extended “Discomix” that’s a dark, dystopian Sci-Fi steppers, with beats clanging and clanking beneath laser blasts and orchestral stabs. Bringing a much busier battle with Babylon that builds to a climax of buzz and distortion. 

YL Hooi’s “Running Around (83)” can be ordered directly from Efficient Space.