fbk: more stories from the future

Long-term house and techno heavyweight, Kevin M. Kennedy aka FBK has a career spanning three decades. Debuting with a seminal release on Frictional in ’97, Kennedy went on to appear on labels like diametric. and Urban Kickz, whilst more recent releases have landed on Barba Records, Suspected (alongside Paul Mac) and Rekids - kick-starting the label’s Special Projects series. With a close bond to Detroit greats like Anthony ‘Shake’ Shakir, Daniel Bell, Claude Young, Keith Tucker and Sherard Ingram (DJ Stingray), FBK is considered a true contemporary. Returning to Rekids for his inaugural longplayer, ‘More Stories From The Future’ demonstrates his versatility within the studio and mirrors his genre-bending approach to performing, both as a DJ and live act. ‘Modular Life’ brings deep resonating lows, liquid pads and clinical percussion, before the psychedelic vocals of ‘I’ll Sit Back, You’ll Jack’ join smashing snares and intensifying synths. Exhibiting erratic sound design, ‘Layers of Fear’ comes complete with pumping drums and intense hi-hats, until ‘Hassling’ offers a stepping groove, thick pad stabs and deep sub movement. ‘Headless’ gets modular heavy with bubbling effects and shuffling rhythm, preceding the driving kicks of ‘Gate Closing’ where ghostly vocals meet enveloping acid growls. ‘The Boxing Lesson’ delivers punchy kicks and steppy snares under lofty atmospherics, ending on ‘The Finisher’s Heart’ where evolving detuned synths flow over powerful percussion.