Pearson Sound – REM

Label: Pearson Sound

While he was once regularly touted as the UK’s best, most forward-thinking producer, Hessle co-owner David Kennedy, aka Pearson Sound, has been fairly quiet of late. Kennedy has always had a taste for pushing sonic boundaries, whether as Pearson Sound or under his previous moniker Ramadanman, his few releases in 2012 were more experimental than ever. While sometimes this gave thrilling results, such as his surprising Joy O / Boddika collaboration Faint or the superb Untitled (both of which charted highly in our 2012 Roundup), his more substantial Clutch EP sacrificed all semblance of a groove in favour of stripped percussive minimalism, resulting in a rather demanding and difficult listen. For his first solo release of 2013 Kennedy continues to follow no-one’s path but his own, yet the result is rather more forgettable than one might like to admit.

The title track is a spare, chaotic configuration of seething synths and twitching percussion accompanied by echoing bass notes, and as with all of Kennedy’s work, it’s immaculately designed. Yet the overall listening experience proves somewhat ephemeral: there is nothing to grab onto here, and it’s hard to imagine how one might dance to this material without a heavy dose of dissociatives. Next Gridlock proves similarly slippery, a simple arrangement of increasingly syncopated drum layers and tunnelling sub-bass hits which gets busier but never feels like it truly progresses.

REM’s B-side is more rewarding, but still falls short of the quality of Kennedy’s previous output. The brief, beatless Figment proves the release’s one true joy; a nakedly beautiful combination of crystalline synths moving like liquid across a field of spare melodic details and a wordless choral accompaniment deep in the mix. Finally Crimson (Beat Ritual Mix) looks back to Kennedy’s musical past, with filtered snares and sudden melodic snatches breaking up a tinned hardcore rhythm. It’s not that Kennedy needs to put out a ‘big’ tune with every release (Quivver on the recent Nonplus Compilation shows that he still can), but the stark minimalism of his recent output often results in music that feels more sketch than fully-formed track. He will surely continue to follow his own sound regardless, but let’s hope that future sonic explorations proffer more substantial results.

5/10

May Roundup 2013

White Noise may have taken a break from writing, but we certainly never stopped listening. Before normal service resumes with a fresh set of reviews and features, here's a 25-strong selection of our top tunes from the month of May(ish). In keeping with the inconsistent weather, our list is split, kicking off with bumpin’ party grooves and backloaded with dark, percussive stompers. Get listening.

Tracklist:

Wildchild – Renegade Master (Applebottom Power Bootleg)

Genius of Time – Love Thang (Genius of Time Re-edit)

Innershades – That Girl

Huxley – Walk 2 U

Kingdom – Bank Head feat. Kelela

Head High – Burning (Keep Calm Mix)

Laszlo Dancehall – Gave Up

Lucretio – Want

Glimpse – True South

Pev & Hodge – Bells (Dream Sequence)

Dark Sky – In Brackets

Laurel Halo – Throw

Ron Hardly – Subway Antlers

Cliff Lothar – Dro Friday

DJ Haus – Cold As Ice

Helix – Whoosh Ice Dispenser

Kowton – TFB [Clip]

Akkord – Navigate

Paula Temple – Colonized

Huerco S. – Apheleia’s Theme

HNNY – Boy

Kevin McPhee – Who Loves You

Pearson Sound – Figment

Koreless – Sun

Mala – Changes (Harmonimix)

Various Artists – Think And Change

Label: Nonplus

In 2011, two compilations nimbly took the stage to explore the current state of UK bass music. Hessle Audio’s 116 and Rising and Hotflush’s Back And 4^th indulged in the delights of a nebulous scene where imagination and vision were valued just as much as the ability to make an all-out banger. Two years later, Boddika takes to his Nonplus imprint, no longer a fringe-DnB portal, to offer a fresh perspective on the scene: it’s deeper and darker, every producer fashioning their sounds in Nonplus’ trademark monochrome, yet despite frequent flashes of brilliance, seems to comment on a scene whose sound is beginning to homogenise.

For the DJs, Think And Change supplies a steady stream of involving, unconventional club tracks from a selection of huge names. Joy O turns in another typically excellent game-changer in the form of the facetiously titled Big Room Tech House DJ Tool – Tip!, where an enormous, hollow bassline echoes out over an earworm vocal and his familiar dusty, shuffling drum patterns. Further afield, Pearson Sound supplies a destructive percussive workout threaded through with quavering vocals and rebounding bass notes. Quivver has all the rhythmic complexity of his latest Clutch EP on Hessle, but with the welcome addition of a vocal hook and a showstopping second drop. Meanwhile Four Tet takes an uncharacteristically straight approach with his gorgeous For These Times, where his trademark addictive vocals and acoustic samples are suppressed by a harsh snare assault pulled off to perfection. Those listening to the digital edition will also receive four extra tracks including Boddika’s VIP of his storming Mercy collaboration with Joy Orbison, a rough assault on the senses with distorting synth accents and suffocated vocal clips.

Youtube Playlist of LP Clips

For all the style of its bangers, Think And Change perhaps impresses most with its more introspective additions to the canon. Endian’s Straight Intention is a winner, deeply atmospheric house with percussive and synth additions mutating over the slightly menacing bassline. Meanwhile Lowtec and reliable experimentalist Kassem Mosse turn out some intruiging noodles, with the former’s The Rhythm (Remix 2) offering a meditative selection of softened synthwork, while the latter turns out two of the EP’s highlights with the shimmering IP Mirrors that swings like glass shards glittering in the light, and the yet more impressive Broken Patterns where a tight techno drum progression is assailed by frayed synthwork and finely treated strings. The vinyl edition's closer comes in the form of Martyn's impressively minimal Bad Chicago, an understated finale where the devil is in the details: look out for the casual touch of reverb here, the simmering synth noodles there. Yet for all the forward-thinking music on this compilation, one of the most intriguing is also the song most rooted in Nonplus’ past, the Instra:mental and dBridge collaboration White Snares, long thought to be never see the light of day. As the only track on offer that steps out of the 120-130bpm bracket, it offers a lush piece of thoughtful, stirring atmospheric DnB that shows just how far the label has come since its inception.

The fact that the vast majority of these tracks are innovative and impressive doesn’t change the fact that they are mostly cast in the same hues and crafted with the same sound pallettes. When a few stray tracks fail, say, Boddika’s Beats Me which stagnates without any real musical progression or SCB’s predictable exercise in build-and-release Dissipate, one is reminded of just how derivative the genre can become when the producers aren’t really trying something new. At least in the bass scene’s early days the missteps were more likely to be intriguing experiments that didn’t quite work, rather than me-too operations that lack a killer ingredient.  Yet ultimately one can’t criticise Nonplus for having a darkened sound pallette, and the potential stagnation of the scene shouldn’t be transposed onto the label. Think And Change remains a stellar selection of tunes with only a few missteps, showcasing Boddika’s excellent prowess as an A&R man as well as a producer, as he drafts in a formidable selection of the scene’s best and brightest who do their best twist, challenge and reincarnate the darker fringes of the bass scene as we know it.

8.5/10

Best Tracks of 2012: 25-1

Year End Coverage

* Best Albums of 2012

* Best EPs of 2012

* Best Labels of 2012

* Best Breakthrough Artists of 2012

* Best Tracks of 2012 - 101-76
* Best Tracks of 2012 - 75-51
* Best Tracks of 2012 - 50-26
* Best Tracks of 2012 - 25-1

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After two weeks of rounding up the year, here are White Noise’s very favourite tracks of 2012. It was murder to try and arrange these great tracks into some semblance of an order, but whether you agree or disagree with the countdown, you’re sure to find a lot of music to love here, so check it out!

25 – T. Williams – Think Of You

Fusing dance music and pop sensibilities rarely comes up with an end result that pleases either fanbase. But on that rare occasion, such as this anthemic closer to Williams’ great Pain & Love EP, everything falls into place perfectly. It’s impossible to tire of Tendai’s sensuous vocals and the snappy 2step beat pattern. Calling this one ‘catchy’ would be both an understatement and the highest possible compliment. EP Review.

24 – Objekt – Cactus

Objekt said that “Cactus was never really meant to be taken seriously; it's just an irreverent bit of fun taking the piss out of wobble dubstep.” However seriously he intended it to be, the havoc this impressively detailed tune wreaked on dancefloors at the beginning of the year was the stuff of legend, and the track still sounds as great today as it did on first release. EP Review.

23 – Elgato – Luv Zombie

With only two releases to his name, both on tastemaking label Hessle Audio, Elgato’s leftfield bass excursions, defying genre tropes, have always been something to look forward to. With an earworm vocal loop and nervy atmospherics, Luv Zombie drops in its latter half into an intensely vibey number that moves the mind as much as the body.

22 – Lorca – Love Like This

The Church boys who’ve been running a great night at Corsica Studios in London entered the label game with this white label refix of Faith Evans refix from up-and-comer Lorca. Mashing those instantly recognisable vocals with Nuyorican Soul’s soaring strings, this killer House cut got more play than almost any other track at White Noise HQ this year.

21 – Jam City - …Now We Relate

The Night Slugs genius made the top of our Best Albums list, but it was on Classical Club Mixes, the dance edition of some of his album’s more propulsive cut that we found his best tune. A tune of truly epic proportions, the perfect drop just before the 5-minute mark is something that has to be heard to be believed.

20 – Joy Orbison, Pearson Sound & Boddika – Faint

This unexpected post-everything tune from an unholy trio of producers was as strange as it was brilliant. A genius vocal sample and dangerously spare percussion made this one blow up dancefloors all the way up to the mind-bending static that closes out the track.

19 – Hackman – Forgotten Notes

UK producer Ben Hackman had a fairly quiet one in 2012, but it didn’t stop him releasing this slow-mo Bass masterpiece. Great sampling and lush chords established a powerful groove as emotive as any other dance release this year.

18 – DJ Q – Brandy & Coke

DJ Q is one hell of a versatile producer, and it was hard to pick from his bassline excursions and junglist cuts. But this Brandy-sampling Garage track was unbearably fresh, as deftly produced as it was catchy. (Audio is the VIP edit, which is basically the same. Free download)

17 – GoldFFinch – Funky Steppa

One of White Noise’s favourite 2012 dicoveries was this Belgian duo, who knack for weaving unusual sounds into their deftly-produced Bass numbers resulted in this total smasher, where sirens and vocal loops played second fiddle to a superb pitch-shifting woodblock rhythm. EP Review.

16 – Julio Bashmore – Au Seve

For the second year in a row, Bristolian Bashmore’s love of bouncing basslines and catchy vocals created one of the year’s most ubiquitous dance hits. This track’s no-nonsense approach just goes to show how effective the genre can be in its simplest form.

15 – Huxley – Let It Go

Huxley’s love of big House sounds was a perfect fit in 2012, and this monster single’s unstoppable bassline and infectious vocal had us grooving right up into the new year. EP Review.

14 – Omar S Presents Aaron ‘Fit’ Siegel – Tonite (Detroit Mix) feat. L’Renee

Omar S and his FXHE label were unstoppable this year. Nowhere was this more apparent than on this powerful classic House number. Addictive piano and sax samples kept this one riding a wave of happy dancers throughout the year.

13 – Pearson Sound – Untitled

It’s been a quiet year for David Kennedy, one of the UK’s freshest producers. But that didn’t stop him from putting out this nervy slice of excellence. Twitching percussion and a showstopping descending melody made this tune stand out from the competition.

12 – Tom Demac – Critical Distance Pt. 2

Demac showed wobble done very right on this monstrous House roller. Primal cries and a loping 4/4 establishes a strong groove under that overpowering, floor-destroying bassline.

11 – Moodymann – Why Do U Feel

One of the House scene’s true legends delivered the goods on this fragmented dance track. Both modern and timeless, the souful vulnerability of this raw cut shone out over rough beats and slick vocal cuts. EP Review.

10 – Andrew Ashong – Flowers

Proof that Theo Parrish is as good at recognising talent as embodying it, his release (and production) of Andrew Ashong’s Flowers created one of the year’s most addictive slow-house jams. Chilled vibes and great acoustic instrumentation made this one of the year’s defining sunrise jams.

9 – Head High – Rave (Dirt Mix)

No one disputes Shed’s legendary status within the Berlin Techno scene. But it still somehow came as a surprise when he put out two of the year’s very best tunes on a single 12”, with the gritty B-side’s crunchy percussion just taking the edge.

8 – Nitetime – Teddy’s Jam

This dusty House number stood out for us by trading as much in melancholy as in feelgood vibes. The moody synthwork and basslines felt like House that had lost its sheen, wearied by the weight of the genre’s past. Add the phenomenal late entry of those descending piano chords, and you’ve got one of the year’s very best tunes. EP Review.

7 – Bicep & Ejeca – You

Though the Bicep duo have earned acclaim for their 90s throwback stylings, this single with Ejeca on Aus had us a lot more excited here at White Noise. Phenomenal vocal sampling and cinematic synthwork drove this propulsive bass number to instant-classic status. EP Review.

6 – Blawan – Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage

This nasty Techno roller created one of the UK club circuit’s strangest sing-alongs to date. The inspired vocal (copped from The Fugees) was only the icing on the top of a raw beat pattern and billowing horror-movie effects.

5 – Todd Terje – Inspector Norse

Last year saw Nowegian disco connoisseur Terje returning to the scene with a vengeance with his Ragysh EP. In 2012 he blew that 4-tracker out of the water with Inspector Norse, an unstoppably feel-good synth bounce that built up to one hell of a climax.

4 – Anthony Naples – Mad Disrespect

The highest position for a newcomer on our list, this shuffling House number suited every occasion. Mellow enough for chilling out but punchy enough to kill on the dancefloor, this cut felt utterly timeless.

3 – Joy Orbison – Ellipsis

Another year, another phenomenal club anthem from Joy Orbison. This tune seemed almost like a mission statement for the young producer, never doing less than his ‘own thing’, Joy O rejects trendy genre stylings and goes right for the jugular. A dusty house roller with a winning vocal sample is more than good enough, but that piano loop made this one of the unfathomably brilliant producer’s very best.

2 – Burial – Ashtray Wasp

William Bevan bookended the year with a magnificent pair of releases that signalled a true return to the scene. The evolution of his sound towards unconventional sonic structures could have been an unwise move, but we've learned to always put our trust in Burial. With the closer to the superb Kindred EP, Bevan created one of his best songs to date. With a new eye for cinema and drama, Ashtray Wasp led the listener by the hand through a fractured sonic landscape whose desolation was only equalled by its beauty. EP Review.

1 – Andrés – New For U

Forgive us for not being original with our number one choice. With a heart-melting string sample, former Slum Village DJ Andrés ruled 2012 with this stunning single. Effortlessly fusing Disco, Soul and House into a tune as life-affirming as it was bittersweet, New For U was an inescapable summer success story from a man who formerly toiled as one of House music’s great unsung heroes. 

Total Redraw: Dance Edition

Remixes that really shake things up

To continue from Monday’s part 1, White Noise now presents some of the best dance remixes from recent times that have been lurking in our music vaults. Again, special attention is paid to remixes that really change the original, and a lot of these are tracks from the non-dance world that have been given a special rework by a top producer.

Tracklist:

Storm Queen – Look Right Through (MK Don’t Talk To Me Dub)

Classixx – Into The Valley feat. Karl Dixon (Julio Bashmore Remix)

Groove Theory – Tell Me (George Fitzgerald Refix)

Florence & The Machine – You’ve Got The Love (Jamie xx Remix)

The Weeknd – What You Need (Prison Garde 808 Edit)

Radiohead – Lotus Flower (Jacques Greene Remix)

The xx – Crystalised (Dark Sky Remix)

Hard Drive – Deep Inside (Pearson Sound Refix)

Amerie – One Thing (French Fries Remix)

Zed Bias – Neighbourhood (El-B Remix)

The Drop – Looking To The Sky (DjRum Remix)

Fat Freddy’s Drop – Cay’s Crays (Digital Mystikz Remix)

Bo Saris – She’s On Fire (Maya Jane Coles Remix)

TRG – Broken Heart (Martyn’s DMC Remix)

Modular Pursuits – No Boundaries (Daphni Remix)

Mosca – Tilt Shift (Julio Bashmore Remix)

Late Nite Tuff Guy – A Deal With God

Boards of Canada – Olson (Midland Re-edit)

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Special thanks to my friend Tom for helping me compile this playlist. Check out his superb mixes on Soundcloud.

Hope you enjoyed the remix roundup, I’ll leave you with a taster of one last track; a forthcoming release from Lorca mixing up FaithEvans and Nuyorican Soul – Enjoy!