God, it’s an average name. I mean, I understand they’re called Joe and Will and all, and perhaps the ‘ask’ gives it a bit of mysterious charm, but they could have at least left off the question mark. That question mark really bugs me. There’s just no purpose to it. Maybe I have a thing against extraneous punctuation.

!(,.:)?’-&”

Ok, I’m over it. So, Joe and Will Ask? Yes? Oh, sorry, that’s just the name (HA!) Two dudes from London, Joe and Will, have been working together for a couple of years now, put out a couple of tracks through Gulp Communication in 2008, got a bit of notice, put out a track through Kitsune, got a lot of notice, now being very closely watched by, well, everyone I think. At least everyone with an interest in melodically taut house-techno hybrids. I presume that’s everybody, yeah?

Either way, they constitute the best thing I’ve discovered house-wise in at least the last couple of months. Although, really, there’s nothing too revolutionary about these tunes. Joe and Will Ask? – What? Oh, the name again (HA! Alright I’ll stop now) – play much like a slowed down Vitalic or a sped-up Booka Shade, tapping into that minor house vibe that was so all over the place in 2006 (is it cool to still like Mason’s Exceeder? It’s cool, isn’t it?… I think it’s cool). Musically, I’d say the feel is very, if you were from Melbourne, Revolver-friendly i.e. simple, but hypnotic analog melody lines thrown over the top of some rather pounding suction house i.e. good God Nigel, is it 8 am already? And yes, I know suction house isn’t a recognised term, but listen to the tracks, you’ll know what I mean.

While I’ve always had a soft spot for this slightly melancholy house/techno music, Joe and Will Ask? are some of the best suppliers of the sound we’ve had since Booka Shade’s sublime ‘Movements’. They’re uncomplicated tracks, but addictive and engaging nonetheless, plumbing slightly askew chord progressions for substantial dancefloor effectiveness. It’s an odd combination, but hey, we all know it works. Today’s offerings are Mongozo!, the title track off one of their EPs from early 2009 and a pretty stonking example of everything I just said, and Claymore, the title track off their Kitsuné EP and a pretty stonking example of everything I just said… Hm. We’re here for good music, not diversity.

Joe and Will Ask? – Mongozo!

Joe and Will Ask? – Claymore

Although, I really wish I could share with you their new track The Rusty Pig, which sounds a bit like Booka Shade being sucked through a Gameboy blender – and is pretty amazing because of it – but alas it is not for blog consumption. However, if you head to Beatport you can pick it up for like $3, so I can heartily recommend you do that right now. It’s pretty amazing. Also, buy anything else they do. Really. You shant regret it.

-luke