Clutch vinyl

This was Pearson Sound's long-awaited return to Hessle Audio this year, and his first material for the label since his contribution to last year's 116 & Rising compilation. Although his recent self released missive "Untitled" proved a welcome distraction it's clear that this release marks the next stage in whichever the producer may be heading. Eschewing the housier tones of the past few years of productions, Kennedy takes things back to basics, exploring the stripped back sounds of early instrumental grime. "Clutch" is as mechanical as its name suggests, combining thumping kicks and sharp-focus percussion with a sensibility not a million miles away from A Made Up Sound's right-angled techno. On the flip, "Underdog" is a cavernous stop-start DJ tool filled with glassy textures and high-voltage bass, while "Piston" is a schizophrenic battery of stuttering snares and contrasting melodic textures that have been frankly difficult to wrap your head around!

West Norwood Cassette Library, Marcel Heese, Clueless, Sun People, WILDLIFE!, Juno Recommends Bass, BRISA, Wolfhaus