Weval’s dance-defining “Chorophobia”

The latest album from Dutch electronic music group Weval “Chorophobia” is both a natural progression of their own career and what’s happening globally. Building on recent releases like Jamie xx’s “In Waves” (2024) and genre defining albums including Azari & III’s self-titled album (2011), “Chorophobia” is a cross-section of everything up until this point. There’s a bit of house, UK-bass, and other dance/electronic elements.

While keeping true to Weval’s more subdued atmosphere, “Chorophobia” lights up more than their previous three releases. This was born out of necessity to reconsider their identity. Although Weval achieved great notoriety with several festival performances and the Edison Award’s Best Dance Album for their 2016 self-titled debut, frontmen Harm Coolen and Merijn Scholte realised they were afraid of dancing. As a result, “Chorophobia” was born.

“Chorophobia” retains familiar elements of Weval’s sound

Rather than retreat, Weval leaned into the fear to create an interactive body of work. Therefore, instead of a passive listening experience, as found in “Weval” (2016), “Weight” (2019), and “Remember” (2023), “Chorophobia” commands your attention. That said, although it pushes the duo’s sound beyond the familiar, there are still sounds that are distinctively Weval woven throughout. This is particularly found in tracks like, “Better” and “Movement.”

Overall “Chorophobia” is an ambitious album that doesn’t reveal itself right away. This is found in both the stylistic choices and involving collaborators, Josh (KILIMANJARO) and his brother, Nsanshi. With this, it can feel like a few different EP’s wrapped up in one package. In that sense, the album proposes various directions where Weval is headed. If there’s one thing keeping it all tied together it’s Coolen and Scholte’s production style. “Chorophbia” was released on 05 September 2025 via Technicolour.

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