Hounded first amazed us a couple months ago with his smooth electronic piece, "Us", which was followed shortly by our premiere of his downtempo track, "I Never Will". As the massive wave of talented young producers continues to grow larger, one's style is really going to be what separates the good from the great, and Sydney's Hounded is already on the right track with his downtempo finesse and vocal manipulation. After hearing his first few releases, we've been anxiously awaiting the 19-year-old's next move, and today, we finally get our curiosity quelled with the blissful, tropical-infused vibes conveyed through his interpretation of James Vincent McMorrow's "Red Dust". Immediately, we get the feel that this track will be slightly different than his previous releases, simply because of its steady clapping and upbeat shaker. Multiple layers of celestial synths grow increasingly apparent, while James Vincent McMorrow's high-pitched croon is chopped and morphed with absolute dexterity. A little over a minute into the track, a smooth transition introduces the kick-clap combo, adding a low-key house element into the mix. As the song progresses, slight melodies and electronic nuances constantly appear and disappear, and the result of their inclusion is a dreamy mesh of uplifting yet relaxed sounds. Operating within the mellower side of electronic is not an easy task, but the producers that can flourish within that particular realm are often the most talented, and Hounded has proven his prowess again with his euphonic edit of "Red Dust". With it, he's hinted at another side of his sound that might lie on the more tropical end of the spectrum, and he's also secured himself as a producer that we'll be keeping a watchful eye on for all releases coming up.
James Vincent McMorrow