180g black vinyl, uncoated/reverse board 12” artwork sleeve (no holes), 3mm spine (w/ text), black paper inner. Download code inside.
Wen has been conspicuously silent over the last few years. Hotly tipped artists usually fall over themselves to maintain steady release schedules, but Wen has taken a more patient route. Carve + Gaze reflects this measured approach. It sees him finding his own voice. It has epic moments, but it finds confidence in restraint. Wen's music was never particularly audacious, but Carve + Gaze sits even further back, with drums deployed in supportive roles rather taking the lead. This gives greater weight to the melodies and moods, which are amplified by the less-is-more approach.
On paper we're in grime territory, but the permutations of a track like "Plinkz" suggest something more. The rhythm suddenly moves to triplets in the middle section before a wide synth line introduces a new sense of space and a contrasting texture. The bass drops out and what sounds like scraps of paper flutter beneath dissonant synth notes, and we're dropped back into a straight rhythm. It's a deft detour that reflects Wen's movement away from established genres into his own field.
"Femme II" eschews kick drums for pounds of bass, bit-crushed hats and reams of effects, remaining tense by making the whole track seem like a breakdown. "Blips" is even more reduced, anchored by a single melodic line that passes through various synth patches, offering multiple perspectives on a central idea. "Cascade" is the most traditional and recognisably Wen track, but it matches the imposing yet melancholy mood of the EP while offering more immediate dance floor kicks. Carve + Gaze suggests Wen has entered a new stage of development.
| A1 | Plinkz |
| A2 | Femme II |
| B1 | Blips |
| B2 | Cascade |
