Pearson Sound & Ron Morelli

  • 9 PM / $10 / 18+ PEARSON SOUND As one third of the team behind the Hessle Audio label, David Kennedy’s Pearson Sound moniker has become synonymous with cutting edge UK dancefloor music. Having stripped back his release schedule , somewhat defiantly hitting out with just a couple of self-released singles that hinted at a more vivid approach to his production this year, he’s truly taken his DJing global with his performances reaching as far afield as Asia, South America and Australia. Having lectured at the Red Bull Music Academy in Madrid, released a critically heralded FABRICLIVE compilation and remixed artists like Radiohead, The xx and M.I.A., Kennedy’s also found the time to run the vinyl only club night, Acetate, in Leeds and help ensure that Hessle Audio’s weekly radio show on London’s Rinse FM maintains its role as an essential part of the station’s broadcasting schedule. RON MORELLI With a few honourable exceptions, the label is built around a particular corner of New York’s musical community. But L.I.E.S. founder Ron Morelli has long maintained a robust cynicism towards the city (as far back as 2011 he was calling it “an overrated cesspool”). And this year, finally, he’s made good his escape. Over the summer, he left behind his life in the rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn – and his job behind the counter at A1 records – to run the label remotely from Paris (though, it should be said, L.I.E.S. stalwart Svengalisghost also lives in Paris, as does new signing Voiski). Morelli seems unfazed by having left behind the city he called home for so long (“when it was done it was done” is the way he puts it). It’s certainly a practical move, enabling him to better capitalise on his label’s growing acclaim on the European club circuit (he will play alongside Legowelt, Marcos Cabral and Svengalisghost for a L.I.E.S. showcase at London’s Fabric this weekend – details here). But when we meet in the restaurant of an Amsterdam hotel ahead of an appearance at Trouw, Morelli doesn’t want to talk about the move, New York, or, really, the label. He seems exhausted at the idea of fielding yet another round of inane interview questions – and who can blame him? Instead, over the course of a subdued 30 minute conversation and subsequent followup emails, what enthuses him is his new album, Spit, and his relationship with Dominick Fernow, through whose Hospital Productions label it appears. Morelli’s debut release under his birth name, Spit’s eight grubby machine workouts are apparently inspired by “the fear and repulsion of basic human interaction”. The record is certainly not his magnum opus but, made in stolen moments between managing L.I.E.S.’ obscene release schedule and a packed gigging calendar, it feels like a neat snapshot of where this feted artist is up to in 2013. Of Fernow, he says at one point, “He is a person that gets things done and has based his life around his work, often isolating himself from the outside world”. It’s easy to see why the two hit it off. BEAUTIFUL SWIMMERS Beautiful Swimmers, DC’s own waterproof producer deejays! The Swimmers balance classic dance tracks, known and unknown, with raw exclusives from under the underground. Andrew (who also records as Maxmillion Dunbar) co-runs the Future Times label, an imprint thriving alongside a growing swell of producers and labels from the east coast of the USA. Making tracks informed by the same “indescribable everything” that Resident Advisor wrote about in their Future Times feature, Beautiful Swimmers produce music that bounces around genre like a kangaroo. Their sold-out vinyl releases on FT and remixes wrap up a myriad of influences and production techniques into songs that hit you out of nowhere, with a signature sound that is somehow always changing. The duo are firmly in the zone, carving out a spacious corner for their unique style in both DJ bags and the collections (and movie soundtracks) of a growing group of devotees worldwide. Their 2013 album “Son” marks a next wave for the Washington DC duo. After a couple of 12″ singles that have rippled for years, they spent studio time crafting the LP. In the meantime, Andrew also released the critically acclaimed “House of Woo” LP as Maxmillion Dunbar for the indelible RVNG label, and a drum tracks 12″ on LIES as Dolo Percussion. The duo look to keep the streak hot. Things Will Be Better In Future Times.
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