"It Was Always Woody (Until It Wasn't)," DJ Dovah's latest song, is a musical rendition of a building mythos. Inspired by the renowned Cliffside Rave, the release captures a turning point in underground culture when the focus shifts slowly and something once holy starts to evolve.
The arrangement, with its euphoric breakbeats and hypnotic vocal layering, generates a strong sense of movement, as though the environment were changing inside the middle of a party. The repetition strengthens and pulls listeners into the common consciousness that something fresh is happening, not becoming tiresome.
The music honors its roots (Woody's pulse, the legacy of late-night programs), but it also allows for a transition, a pulse when history separates and something fresh emerges. DJ Dovah's ability to sonically recount change while preserving the mood is remarkable. There comes a moment in the mix when it looks more like a takeover than an homage. And that's where it truly shines.
DJ Dovah accurately and soulfully soundtracks a scenario that has expanded outside its origins based on common experience. In dance music history, "It Was Always Woody (Until It Wasn't)" marks a turning point.