Louen Poppé returns with ‘Parasites’, a carefully sculpted EP that explores space, tension, and
movement across minimal techno, deep house, and left field club music. Following the single
‘Mum’, released on 23rd January, the full EP lands on 6th February with ‘Kwaak’ positioned as the
focus cut.
‘Microfibre’ opens the release with intent. Earthy and spacious, it blends live instrumentation
with electronic detail, centred around a stripped-back groove that prioritises feel over force. The
track breathes, using restraint and negative space to draw the listener in. ‘Gulp’ leans into a
deeper, late-night house mood. A rolling bassline leads the charge, supported by subtle
percussion and refined melodic touches. It is direct without being obvious, balancing groove and
elegance in equal measure.
Single ‘Mum’ to be released on the 23rd January as a teaser, shifts the narrative again. Electro
tinges, rippling rhythms, and pulsating harmonics unfold patiently, accented by a vocoded voice
texture that adds emotional weight without dominating the mix. The focus remains on
atmosphere, texture, and gradual progression.
‘Kwaak’ pushes the EP into peak time territory. Its rhythmic framework mirror’s earlier themes
but injects more urgency and forward motion. Breakbeat nostalgia and eerie undertones sit
beneath the surface, keeping the track raw, unpredictable, and firmly underground.
The remixes deepen the EP’s identity rather than simply reworking it. Awir Leon’s remix of ‘Kwaak’
takes the original’s tension and drives it into darker territory. Awir is known for his introspective
ballads reminiscent of Frank Ocean, Thom Yorke and James Blake. As a dancer, music and
movement are one and the same in his eyes. He moves from garage to batida, grime to amapiano
and bass to afrotonic.
Tribal rhythms and intricate percussive layers form the backbone of the track, creating a
hypnotic, physical energy designed for late-night floors. The eerie melodic character of the
original remains intact, but it is stretched and reshaped, giving the remix a more ritualistic feel
that unfolds gradually rather than peaking too quickly.
Sapphist Eye has been a regular on Lumiere Noire and returns in 2026 with her remix of ‘Mum’.
Offering a striking contrast, as it draws clear inspiration from early electro and techno crossover
sounds, it carries a raw, almost nostalgic energy while staying modern in its arrangement. House
elements weave in and out as the track constantly shifts direction, packed with evolving
sequences, sharp turns, and unexpected moments. It feels like a lost classic rediscovered,
restless and dynamic from start to finish.
‘Parasites’ stands as a cohesive, nonconformist release that rewards both deep listening and
club play, with the remixes expanding its world rather than diluting its vision.
Louen Poppé’s ‘Parasites’ EP, including remixes from Sapphist Eye and Awir Leon, is
available from 6th February 2026 via Lumiere Noire.