Maurice Donovan - 'Babeh/Satisfied' (SSSSS002)

David Kennedy (aka Ramadanman/Pearson Sound) intimates his Chicago house alter ego with a 12” release for the Untold’s house imprint SSSSS. Kennedy is killing it at present, with this deep, swinging Chicago house release coming off the back of his excellent Fabriclive 57 mix. The release really looks back to 1980s Chicago house, with Donovan updating the sound and look of the past to the present and indeed the future. The sounds are as fresh as the sleeve, which is clearly a homage to the 80s ‘House Sound of Chicago’ covers. With ‘Babeh/Satisfied’, “you kitties bout to get sum cream in yow bowl” (Maurice Donovan's twitter).

‘Babeh’ gets things rolling on the A-side. Soulful cries of ‘babeh’ slowly rise with snare hits, soon ordered into a fixed rhythm by the stripped down beat. Heavy sub accompanies the claps and hi-hats, developing a deep and soulful, yet rugged and structured Chicago house rhythm. Lamenting synth lines soon arise from the ashes of the diminished beat during the break, providing a weight of emotion. However, this interlude is only brief, with the sub heavy rhythms quickly reintegrated, stirring up quite a storm with every hit.

‘Satisfied’ is downright killer; real house music. The straight house beat begins affairs, with rolling 808s building up a tempo as synth chords work their way into the foreground alongside the wonderful female vocal sample. Things are soon kicked into action here though, with the drop signalling its deep intentions. 808s relentlessly kick, robust toms hammer away, and subs reverberate.

Strong stripped house rhythms, with sub so heavy and soulful vocals so infectious you can’t help but be pulled in by Maurice Donovan’s magic. Outrageous Chicago vibes, essential 12". “MUTHAFUCKAS IMA BACK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Pearson Sound - 'Working With/Deep Inside' (NSWL007)

Pearson Sound - 'Working With/Deep Inside'

David Kennedy's first release of 2011 has arrived, and unsurprisingly the young man has produced an absolute killer. The release will come on the Night Slugs white label, an offshoot of the main label which specialises in upfront remixes, most notably the outstanding Jam City 'Refixes' EP. The release, now available form various online stores now, comprises of two Pearson Sound edits, the first his take on Rod Lee's Baltimore house track 'Let Me See What U Workin With', the second Hardrive's 1993 classic house effort 'Deep Inside'.

Both tracks are recognisably Pearson Sound refixes from the off. 'Working With' carefully weaves an intricate juke-infused percussive arrangement, soon accompanied by devastating bass kicks, a simple acid synth melody and the infectious vocal sample from Rod Lee's original. 'Deep Inside' thrives off a wonderfully constructed percussive arrangement that nods to 90s hardcore and chicago juke, with cowbells resonating in the spaces in between and the Hardrive vocal sample hypnotising in its endless repetition. These refixes are undoubtedly closer to 'Blanked/Blue Eyes' in relation to Kennedy's past material. Brilliant as per usual. Vinyl only, so act fast.

'Working With/Deep Inside' also coincides this week with the release of Pearson Sound/Ramadanman's Fabriclive 56 Mix. You can preview the first 30 minutes of the mix below, it doesn't disappoint (the inclusion of Pearson's 'GR Etiquette' symphonic mix most certainly helps). Be sure to purchase both, they're absolute essentials.

Ramadanman FABRICLIVE56 30minSTREAM by The FADER