Mighty Force serves up a hearty communal feast with Waes Hael, a dish that has the self-appointed gourmet set clutching their pearls while everyone else happily goes back for seconds. The kitchen doors are flung wide open, the recipe cards are on the table, and the so-called culinary elite are absolutely losing their composure. We here at Choon Review have pulled on our aprons and are ready to share exactly how this unruly and deeply satisfying meal comes together.
Begin by gently soaking Solipsism – Solemn Robin in cool evening air. Let it rest until the calm and brooding ambience fully hydrates, allowing the distant birdsong and deep bass tones to seep out slowly. There is no need for seasoning here, no drums, no percussion, just a thickening atmospheric stock that quietly sets the mood of the kitchen.
While that base is settling, decant ThorF – Freeze into a wide bowl and leave it uncovered. Give it time. This ingredient needs space for its nostalgia-rich aroma to bloom. Lightly tap the deep, quiet bass tones so they release their percussive sting, then fold in the wistful melody until the whole mixture takes on a dusty, sepia-tinted sadness that tastes of lost moments and soft regret.
Next, brighten the room by adding Paddy Thorne – So Ready. Sprinkle in crisp breakbeat drums and lively plucks, then toss with tropical flecks of percussion. Keep the bass light and supportive, just enough to hold everything together. This is the point where the dish lifts its head, airy and energetic, reminding everyone that joy is very much on the menu.
Slow the pace again with Long Range Desert Group – Stoner 420. Start with deep bass and acoustic textures, stirring gently to preserve the mystery. Introduce the detuned strings carefully, letting their strange, dark flavour coil around the groove. Do not rush this stage. It should simmer into a hypnotic, slow burn that hints at trance without ever committing to it.
Bring the heat back up with Golden Donna – Locked Out Of Time. Add in halting house rhythms with a wobble in the whisk and wrist. The groove should feel woozy and slightly off centre, where house and IDM meet and grin at each other. This is a playful but confident seasoning that keeps the dish moving.
Fold in Schoco – Escape The World next. Start with bright, plinky notes, then drop in the bass and broken techno rhythms. Stir until momentum builds. Let the darker melody remain sparse so it leaves room on the palate, balancing forward motion with a touch of brooding depth.
Now introduce M Paths – Taken To Another World. Pour in the alien textures first, then lock them onto a solid, driving drum rhythm. This ingredient adds propulsion and strangeness in equal measure, pushing the whole recipe into more adventurous territory without losing coherence.
Carefully spoon in Fluffy Inside – Sock Or Sandal. Expect resistance at first. The wobbling synth is awkward and strange, but once the slow, deep acid bassline settles in, everything begins to gel. Allow hints of frozen jazz and dub to surface briefly, but keep the focus on experimental braindance. This is a subtle flavour that rewards patience.
Turn your attention to Drøn – Dione. Let it fade in slowly, alternating high and low percussive tones like curious hands on unfamiliar instruments. As the glitchy rhythms emerge, add the complex modular bass line and let its alien character spread. This is rich, detailed sound design and unmistakably Drøn, best appreciated with full attention.
Season with Kicker Balance – Pagan Dance. Drop in the reverb-ed synth stabs and deep bass hits, then let the fast kick pattern give the dish some bones. The result should feel odd and slightly unbalanced, but cheerful all the same. Think: sunlight, celebration, silliness, and a deliberate refusal to take itself seriously.
Lighten the texture with Augen – Agonists. Lay down airy, organic almost xylophone-like melodies and let the higher arpeggios dance above them. Keep percussion out of this step. This ingredient works as a cleansing course, bright and weightless.
Drift into abstraction with Dogstare – I’m Not Malfunctioning… You Are. Swirl in whooshing ambience, reversed echoes, and whispered fragments. There is no form to force here. Let it remain strange and nebulous, like steam rising from the pot and briefly forming faces before disappearing.
Finally, bring the meal to a gentle close with Mrs Oddjob’s Tupperware Party – As The Scream Rides The Wind. Pour slowly. The soft, flute-like synths and wind-filled tones should calm everything they touch. This meditative finish leaves the table quiet, satisfied, and reflective.
Waes Hael is a generous recipe, varied in texture and flavour, and it reflects a steady curatorial hand rather than a scattershot approach. Mighty Force deserves a clear nod here for trusting the material, letting each contributor speak in their own native musical tongues and shaping a compilation that is fully considered and masterfully balanced. It is a label doing what it does best, presenting adventurous electronic music with confidence and care, and allowing that work itself to make the strongest impression.
Waes Hael by Various Artists was released 15 Jan 2026 on the Mighty Force record label
