Tessera

Hot off a string of records released on Coloring Lessons, Bliss Point, People Of Earth, and Off Track Recordings, Malik Hendricks returns to Darker Than Wax with Tessera – a fresh twelve of dancefloor cuts tinged with broken rhythms and funk-infused melodies. No stranger to the label, Malik had contributed a track on 2020’s Bodyclock Vol.1, and we are pleased to share this solo offering, backed with a remix by the hotly-tipped James Bangura.

Recorded in Brooklyn in 2020 and 2021, Tessera marks a shift in the American-born, Lisbon-based producers sonic journey. Normally a sample-focused producer, Malik’s ongoing collaborations with musicians John Barera and John Silas impacted the artist’s sound with their funky, improvisational approach and pushed him to explore his own musicality in a deeper way. The result is Tessera, four cuts of organic, modern dance music traversing shades of Midwest funk and techno, and signifying a new chapter in Malik’s craft.

Diving into the record, first single ‘Switchback’ goes in heavy with an electro-fused flavour, pairing smooth chords with raw drums. ‘Fiyahverkx’ is an 808-heavy broken techno heater, while ‘The Money Dance’ invokes daytime house vibes with a chunky analogue bassline and funky synth lines throughout. ‘Totem’ channels a rolling, percussive atmosphere, flipped by James Bangura into a driving late-night floor filler.

The future looks bright for Malik Hendricks as he jumps from strength to strength, and we are elated to provide a home to this record that marks an evolution in the artist’s sound.