Ramadanman EP

Ramadanman
Ramadanman EP
Rating: Grrrr

EPs are notoriously difficult to review. They usually fall within several categories: more often than not, EPs are either pre-releases before a full length is released; a stop-gap between releases; or are dumping grounds for b-sides that didn't make it on a full length or are stylistic departures that don't fit well in an artist's canon. In the area of dubstep, they are often the rule rather than the exception. Perhaps because of the stylistic changes that happen on a dime, artists don't want to be out of the game too long for a full length, but also don't want to be known primarily as a singles/remix artist.

Not quite sure where Ramadanman (Hessle records co-founder David Kennedy) fits into this puzzle. I would venture to guess that he is not quite ready to throw out a full-length but is not necessarily intimidated by it, but wants something out there more than a few one-off singles. So we are left to critique his self-titled EP. And a good one it turns out to be.

Taking the key components of dubstep, rattling and bowel shaking bass and intricate off-kilter drum programming, Ramadanman merges it all with IDM-style melodic meandering, hardcore breakbeats, and small, humorous elements that give what could be seen as being cold and industrial and giving it a warm heart. For example, the raindrop-like plicks and plonks of percussion that envelop "Bleeper;" the echoing, disembodied vocal samples and clanging programming of lead track "I Beg You," that sounds like Autechre and Burial mating in a laboratory; or the wobbly bass and drum breaks in "A Couple More Years."

Everything comes to complete fruition with first single "Don't Change Me" which begins like the son of drill 'n bass, with intensely crisp and punishing hi-hats and hardcore snares, which enfolds into a delicately gorgeous dubstep track with commanding diva vocal samples, that build into an amazingly realized track.



Ramadanman doesn't appear to be in any hurry to release a full-length, but if he keeps on putting out music of this quality, it could hardly be considered a bad thing. One does wonder what we are missing without one.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not good; could have either been trimmed or polished.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.