Been out too, ever since that Pendulum sound started to dominate. I was a massive head in the late 90’s . Metalheadz, Ram, V, No u-turn, Full Cycle, Moving Shadow were the labels doing it for me back then.
It was the Commix Fabric comp that made me curious again. I’ve probably spent more money on tunes since then than I did in 90s.
Metalheadz still lead the way for me. After all this time still producing faultless breaks.
Generally though, I like deep, dark, minimal and funky and the labels doing it for me right now.
Critical
Dispatch
Ingredients
Subtitles
Symmetry
Exit
Coded
Invisible
Shogun Audio
Digital Soul Music
Horizons
The most exciting new label is Spearhead, some awesome stuff due on there.
Biggest disappointment for me these days is Ram. Their 90s output was peerless but the stuff form the 00’s just leaves me cold. Not really feeling most of the liquid scene personally. I don’t get Hospital’s popularity for instance but great that the choice is there now.
Best producers both new and upcoming are the likes of Ulterior Motive, Jubei, Alix Perez, Lenzman, Break, Icicle, Skeptical, SPY, Total Science, Spectrasoul, Hybris, Octane & DLR, Survival, Craggz & Parallel, Commix, Data, June Miller, Need for Mirrors, Amoss.....there’s loads of great stuff. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s all shit. It’s not, it’s just different and the choices are there. I’m 37 years old and those 90s vibes were brilliant but the new boys are just great too.
The other thing which we didn’t have back in the day and is just brilliant is the Podcast. Dozens of new tunes to listen to every week all for free mixed by the best in the business.
Try Doc Scott’s Future Beats (the man is still a hero of mine), Critical Music Podcast, Ingredients podcast, Shogun Audio, Metalheadz, Gram Agency etc.
http://www.dubplatedigest.net/ is a good aggregator of all the free stuff out there.
The one thing I don’t know much about is where is good to rave at the moment. Having moved out of London with a young family, getting out is tough. Need to check out Metalheadz again soon.
Anyway, that’s me, someone who was out but got pulled back in. Hope that helps anyways.