Omar S & Desire - Hard Times
Format : 12"
Label : FXHE Records
Catalog # : FXHE OD2
Genre : House
Deep house meets latin freestyle and synth-pop in a proper classy ride by AOS & IDIB’s Desire, starring Johnny Jewel in the backseat
‘Hard Times’ follows Omar-S & Desire’s first meeting, ‘54321’ (2022) with a slinkier cut on the cusp of late ‘80s deep house, when latin freestyle was still a key ingredient. The OG mix bears the strongest, atavistic traces of when latin freestyle went smooth, not choppy, in the effortless meld of plucky bassline funk and needling machine rhythm iced with Desire’s glyding, melancholy vocal finesse, bound to lodge itself in the memory with instant appeal.
The instrumental reveals Omar’s succulent special sauce in effect, and Johnny Jewel dials up the keyboard lustre, juxtaposing sparkling FM synth refrains with brassier vamps and strings, swept into a breezy LA terrace sashay.