- Along with a change in weather, the onset of spring often brings with it an increase in tracks with sunny disco/soul vocals. Numbers' contribution to the fast-approaching terrace season has been a mystery weapon in Jackmaster's sets for some months now, so it was a relief that the Glasgow label recently announced the release of "Pride" and revealed it to be the work of Kevin "Adesse Versions" Gorman.
Having retooled everyone from Richie Hawtin to Madonna on previous Adesse Versions EPs, Pride is the first original music Gorman has produced under the name, and it's an unabashed triumph. The title track's star feature is an oh-so-charismatic female vocal. At least half the battle when you've got a kinetic vocal like this is knowing what to surround it with, and using just a discordant piano line, creeping sub rolls and the right amount of echo, Gorman gives it all the room it needs to breathe. As Numbers themselves note, there's a Mr Fingers feel to the B-side, "First Time," with its sleepy bass groove, riding hats and cosmic keys. The closing dub version of the title track, meanwhile, will be mainly of interest to DJs, though it's hard to look to past the fantastic original.
TracklistA1 Pride
B1 First Time
B2 Pride (Dub)