Review: Ewan Pearson – We Are Proud of Our Choices
Ewan Pearson – We Are Proud of Our Choices (2010) [Kompakt] // Grade: B-
Ewan Pearson is a behind the scenes kind of guy. The English production wizard has released very few long-running works under his name, but has amassed a never-ending list of commissioned remixes over the past decade for everyone from Moby to Goldfrapp to the Pet Shop Boys. Add in production work for The Rapture, Gwen Stefani, M83 and most recently. Tracey Thorn and Delphic and you’ll quickly realize Ewan Pearson is a name you know, without knowing it.
It’s been three years since Fabric 25, Pearson’s last commercial mix and he’s returned to this arena with We Are Proud of Our Choices, a sprawling, cosmic mix for electronic powerhouse label Kompakt. Not unlike Fabric 25, We Are Proud of Our Choices, focuses on mood-setting and you won’t find any of Pearson’s poppier side on this mix.
Unfortunately, that side is what I’ve always wanted to hear from Pearson in a long-runner. He has a fantastic skill at elevating pop selections to a higher plane, where lush soundscapes run alongside lingering vocals. But perhaps I’m being selfish, We Are Proud of Our Choices is, after all, a mix for Kompakt and with that in mind, Pearson’s choice to imagine a tech house landscape where Lemonade’s “Bliss Out” sprawls infinitely, opening the mix up into a series of calculated, emotive peaks is a direction that’s respectful towards the label’s vision.
Despite We Are Proud of Our Choices being pretty, well-executed and consistent, Pearson plays it too safe, setting an admirable mood, but failing to transport the listener into any new sonic territory. Electronic music aficionados will get a lot out of We Are Proud of Our Choices—there’s plenty of though-out transitions and careful builds that warrant praise. But without any clear risks, We Are Proud of Our Choices falls into hip restaurant soundtrack territory for casual listeners
