Ifan Dafydd is still something of an enigma in producer and DJ circles. Although his output has got him some top level praise from his contemporaries, not a huge amount is known about the man himself. As such this will probably be one of the more copy light POW posts we’ve ever had.

Ifan Dafydd – No Good

The first we heard of Ifan was with the lauded release of ‘No Good’ – a track that sampled the late great Amy Winehouse with a subtlety and originality that many have tried to foster and could not. You could place him somewhere between garage and dubstep, but Ifan has a sparse, cool sound all his own. That garage inspiration can be heard to full effect on his track ‘Miranda’ – a moody two-step mash up of Usher’s ‘You Remind Me’.

Ifan Dafydd – Miranda

Ifan’s remix of rising star Emelie Sande takes her story of forbidden love from commercial soul anthem into James Blake down-pitched vocal territory. The Blake comparison is regularly made (Ifan apparently lived with him for a time) and although clearly there are similarities in the two artist’s output, Ifan’s tinkering with vocals and melody seems a little less self-indulgent.

Emelie Sande – Daddy (Ifan Dafydd Remix)

Ifan’s latest release uses sparse vocals and sweeping moody instrumentals to great effect. The double A-side ‘Treehouse / To Me’ is released digitally on February 6th. Although Ifan Dafydd is still currently a bit of a mystery, if this EP release is anything to go by 2012 feels like the year when he will step out of James Blake’s shadow and  carve his own niche.

Ifan Dafydd – Treehouse / To Me