- David Kennedy has an affinity for experimental sound design, which he folds into club music without batting an eyelid. On Pearson Sound's self-titled debut album, however, that tendency made for a record that sounded like the Hessle Audio man was a little lost inside his own head. Thaw Cycle is his first release since then, and while the music remains stripped-down as ever, the energy and panache that make a good Pearson Sound tune are back in full force.
Each side is built on a typical foundation: a lopsided drum loop repeats until you start imagining subtle changes in its clockwork tick. "Thaw Cycle" is the most dynamic, percolating and bubbling with the introduction of a piano sample that Kennedy finesses. He finds small revelations in the twist of a filter knob, highlighting his ear for repetition and decay. "Freeze Cycle" (which irked Sleeparchive by sampling "Elephant Island" without permission) sinks into a more cerebral and detailed soundscape. This time, spacey synths and trigger-happy drum programming bore forward with the single-minded determination of techno, though still bounce with a playful skip. It's neither here nor there—like most Pearson Sound tracks—and it's excellent.
TracklistA Thaw Cycle
B Freeze Cycle