Shimpei Watanabe gets playful on new EP ‘Bald vs Tall’
From 90s grooves to footwork flips, the release marks another impressive release for the label
Shimpei Watanabe drops his latest EP 'Bald vs Tall', a five-tracker stacked with two originals and three remixes on Japanese label Hekdb.
The imprint has quickly become one of our go-to labels in the region, known for releases that are genre-fluid, always a little left-of-centre, and bold in ideas and execution.
Across the EP, Watanabe blends quirky vocal samples with Balearic-tinged floatiness, layering piano motifs, broken beats and off-kilter synth work into tracks that push forward with momentum while keeping things fun and unpredictable.
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While the remixes all bring their own flavour, including label head Pine’s stellar footwork-fuelled flip of 'Mellon Collie And What Eh', it’s the two originals that grab us the most.
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'Wozee' leans into a 90s-indebted groove, while 'Mellon Collie And What Eh' takes listeners down stranger, more adventurous pathways.
'Bald vs Tall' is another reminder of why Hekdb is fast becoming a fan favourite in the region.
Listen to and purchase Shimpei Watanabe’s 'Bald vs Tall' here.
Henry Cooper is a Writer at Mixmag Asia. Follow him on Instagram.
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