Belief’s Layered Minimal Techno Track “WOT” Brims With Zen-like Swagger

Stella Mozgawa and Boom Bip as Belief offer the fast-pace techno piece “WOT” as an example of the artists stretching beyond the boundaries of the music for which they’re most well known (Mozgawa as a member of Warpaint but also contributing to recordings by Kurt Vile, Cate Le Bon, Courtney Barnett, Sharon Van Etten and Kim Gordon, Boom Bip for his work with Neon Neon). The track is composed of modulated beats in the minimal techno style but layered to give that simplicity of style a dimensionality that draws you in. The first section sounds like its in an unorthodox compound time, with a break for a vocal that simply says “Wot” as though giving voice to an implied character that is vibing to herself along with the beat, walking through her neighborhood with the ambient urban noise of vehicle whooshing by, the buzzing of streetlights all seeming to affirm an inner pace with accented beats echoing enough to bring a sense of open space and a sense of freedom. If one were to create this emotional and psychological space in one’s head taking in the surrounding area with a Zen-like peace, awareness and mindfulness until someone interrupts your headspace in the music and being one with the world with some mundane foolishness and you dismiss their frivolous demand for attention with a simple, monosyllabic “Wot” and then move on. Without being explicit the song implies swagger and attitude in a more abstract and creative way. Listen to “WOT” on YouTube and follow Belief at the links below.

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Belief Imprints Soothing Textures and Soundscapes on Your Brain With “Ulu”

A tonal wind in the distance brings us in to Belief’s single “Ulu” before a steady minimal beat indicates the next phase of the song. Although that wind persists like an emotional context for the song, a lightly distorted synth melody flares falls in the mix, subtle winding drones whisper in the middle distance, a simple, light electronic bass line joins the shuffling rhythm that takes over as the melancholic wind fades to be replaced by a hazy keyboard figure. But the motifs return before the outro and the mood is reminiscent of late 2000s minimal and dub techno, with roots in 90s dance-oriented IDM, in its evocation of a soothingly chill atmosphere of deep contemplation. The project is comprised of Stella Mozgawa (perhaps best known as the drummer for Warpaint whose considerable skills and perceptive ear has contributed to records by Kurt Vile, Kim Gordon, Cate Le Bon, Courtney Barnett and others) and Bryan Hollon aka Boom Bip (who is in the electronic group Neon Neon, in which Mozgawa once toured) and if this track is any indication it taps into their collective knack for generating textures and soundscapes with rhythms to anchor the emotional imagery in your brain with a gentle touch. Listen to “Ulu” on YouTube and follow Belief at the links below.

Belief on Instagram