Yesterday's Trainspottle no.496 was Universal - Groove Therapy (Photek remix)
From beginnings as a Bukem selection on Logical Progression & Looking Good, Universal aka Lexis eventually brought this groove to Certificate 18, a spiritual home to both him and its remixer. Photek hones in on the hypnotic deep house vibe guiding with typical tight beats & bass.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.511 was DJ Friction - Light Speed
Rapidly accelerating his ascent Friction made his name around the scene with tunes like this that featured high-octane energy and tough beats perfect for the intensity of sets and label outputs at the time.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.512 was Origin Unknown - Truly One (Remix Pt. 2)
Bringing a classic into another era when your sound has gone thru so many evolutions isn't so easy but with familiar samples and some of the wobbly funk Andy and Ant apply the Molten template to good effect. The art of the remix on display from the Ram veterans.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.517 was Supply & Demand - Show Me
As G Squad evolved and shifted into Supply & Demand's funkier dancefloor sounds their skills would garner them appearances on labels like Chronic and one can hear why. Catchy riffs and rolling breaks deliver a strong groove on this one.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.527 was Un-cut - Midnight (Marcus Intalex & ST Files Remix)
Another pair of Mancunian maestros taking Jenna G & Future Cut's memorable musical piece to rolling drum & bass heaven. Liquid funk with energy & emotion perfect for midnight celebrations the world over. RIP Marcus.
Capping a recent Trainspottle theme of Intalex-related tunes to start the new year remembering greatness.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.533 was Marcus Intalex & ST Files - Universe
Building on Vikter Duplaix's broken beat-influenced deep house groove for Masters At Work, the maverick d'n'b duo made this as their melting of techno, house & techstep was Making us Feel the liquid funk. Born from a universe of sounds, their love for them, inviting us to dance.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.536 was Influx Datum - Dayz Of Glory
As more disco & house elements were mixing into the liquid funk side of drum & bass, Influx Datum said why not also a good ol' amen tearout, showing their skills with a house-inspired buildup and the bass & breaks of a jump-up throwdown. Dancefloor business for all.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.543 was Orgy - Blue Monday (Optical Instrumental Mix)
Putting the late-90s alt rock cover aside this is about Optical flexing the Virus sound as it was arriving on the scene. With gamechanging alien bass, tight drums & neurofunk-defining grooves, like New Order before bridging and evolving sounds, this would brighten any dnb head's Monday.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.600 was Drum Kru - Poltergeist
The d'n'b world relished any members of Bad Company, Virus, 1210 or DSCI4 vibing in the studio together as Drum Kru. Here we find dBridge, Maldini, Fierce & Ryme Tyme in a ghostly groove of experimental electronics & tight details while remaining true to the romance of neurofunk.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.643 was Goldie - Kemistry VIP (Grooverider Remix)
The Rufige heartbeat remixed by the Rider showing one of the places that future artistic vision could go, where it had gone. Still on the sharpest metal edge, a broken down drum & bass soundscape, for the soundsystem. Inspired by those around (RIP), immersed in the underground.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.713 was Hive - Ultrasonic Sound
Melding beats & bass influences from local hip-hop and UK jungle/dnb energy Hive's adept production skills stood out as he was helping build & inspire flavours for West Coast/LA jungle, attracting further UK collabs & even injecting breakbeat appeal to the Matrix soundtrack.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.714 was DJ Red & Earth People - Ride
DJ Red continually adapting his sound fitting right in with the wave of punchy, techsteppin' neurofunk that raves were clamouring for delivering bass-heavy loops on his own label Stealth here. When it drops it's high-energy and relentless.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.715 was Exocet - Demon Seed
Under radar tune & producer making beats for love of the music, would stay that way if not for intrepid DJs exposing it at key times in mixes: intros, outros, bridging moments in sets... its minimal dnb template and progressive trance influence making the journey for many a raver. What it's all about really. (play today's)
Henry Rollins yelling at Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic (1995) on the sample!
Monday's Trainspottle no.733 was Prisoners Of Technology - The Trick Of Technology (Time To Work Mix)
A flagship tune of sorts, P.O.T. evolve their jungle sound by pushing all the levels of their own technology for a powerful two-stepping, bouncy bass & sampling good time. Fresh Kutt defining a sweet-spot between late-90s techstep & jump-up delivered fun energy to ravers all over.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.734 was Smokey Joe - It Ain't Hip Hop VIP
Rolling with the jungle evolution towards harder jump-up beats Joe incorporated hip-hop flavour with dedication in tunes working with brothers & Smokers Inc kru over the years. Here a wild west reminder of the sound they crafted for the drum & bass underground. It ain't hip-hop.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.735 Shaun Bear - Take It Like A Pro
Underground NYC hip-hop label Rawkus tapping into the bubbling konkrete jungle with Rawkuts gave US drum & bass scene soldiers a boost. Trouble On Vinyl adding that extra bridge connecting producers & sounds on both sides of the pond as harder, techy jump-up sounds gained acceptance.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.748 was Randall & Andy C - Sound Control
RAM bringing production skills of Ant Miles together with the party rocking know-how of Randall & Andy C in a tune that captures minds with its timestretched breaks & sample use and moves soundsystems & ravers with its 808 bass notes. A jungle workout setting the bar.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.762 was Random Movement - Stars In The Dark
An example of how global the liquid funk sound had become and the quality of deep, rolling drum & bass being produced. Leave it to Bassbin to tap into the Stateside duo's dubwise basslines & strong breaks for the heads & grooving dancefloors alike.
Yesterday's Trainspottle no.769 was Future Cut - 20/20 (remix)
From crisp drums and wobbling bassline to the memorable lead the Manchester duo fits the details together showcasing their rapidly accelerating production skill in an energetic d'n'b groove and making another arena-sized contribution to TOV/Hardware's millennium selections.
With techsteppin' sounds spreading globally stalwart Stateside producer & DJ E-Sassin put the work in to build & inspire West Coast d'n'b. The pieces coming together in hard & dark takes like this garnered attention across the US & from worldly heads.
try today's)
RIP Marcus.