(Kompakt/Stomp)

Two electronic powerhouses join force for a sublime compilation

My theory about Ewan Pearson is that he has access to a secret, magical crate full of records that other DJs just don’t know about – that’s the only way to explain how he can pull off compilations as effortlessly, jaw-droppingly wonderful as his Fabric and Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi releases, and now this. We Are Proud Of Our Choices sees Pearson teaming up with Berlin’s Kompakt, and his deep, melodic sensibility is a perfect fit for the label that released Michael Mayer’s Immer mix and Jürgen Paape’s gorgeous micro-house creations. The opening combo of tracks from Lemonade and Pitch & Hold float by in a cloud of synths and ambient textures, with every clipped beat and sound effect in just the right place. The pace changes a third of the way in with Yukihiro Fukotomi’s Open Our Eyes. Though it’s little more than a series of platitudes like raise your hands and see the light over a rolling piano loop, the track’s overall effect is sheer bliss – you just want to go with it and do what the nice lady is saying. The mix ends with an excellent run of tracks, including an Al Usher track that puts a techno spin on Fever Ray’s icy synth sound, and Ewan Pearson’s own gauzy remix of Little Dragon’s Fortune. We Are Proud Of Our Choices is another near-perfect mix from Pearson, truly a release to be savoured.

****½

ALASDAIR DUNCAN

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