Shy
FX's
Digital Soundboy label has - over time - made the transition from underground drum
and bass stable to one of the leading taste-making labels in contemporary
music.
Skream, Benga, Redlight, BennyPage and more have all been part
of this gang of bass laced riddims and timbres, but in recent times we’ve seen
them leaving behind its once strict musical policy of delivering the best
upfront drum and bass tracks available, to becoming an imprint synonymous with
good times and party aesthetics.
It’s
probably this reason that keeps the
Digital
Soundboy Soundsystem FABRICLIVE mix
sounding so refreshing. Far from just your usual, standard set of 160bpm,
syncopated beats, Shy teams up with label favourite
Breakage and talented new
girl
B.Traits to offer the genuine feel of a soundsystem collective –
eclectic-cuts from across the full spectrum of dance music, delivered through
the same family-spirit that united the youth of Britain in the jungle era back in
the nineties.
Many
surprises choices wait in-store on this mix - from inspired choices such as
M.A.N.D.Y
& Booka Shade’s tech-house classic
Body Language
and
Justin Martin’s popping ghetto tech on
LEZGO, to cuts like
Bok Bok’s Silo Pass and even stomping, tribalism on
Buraka Som Sistema’s Ba Ba Ba (Hangover), it’s the fusion
of tempos and genres which keeps this mix pumping through a 46 track selection
– without sounding boring, dry and predictable.
The
three label names settled into the studio to deliver a collective signifier of
the labels reach and also tastes - but it still seems that Shy is also capable
of pulling in a raft of special dubplates himself too. Check his special shout out
on
Skeptical and Focus’ Marka,
his specially modified ‘
Soundboy Special
of
Dizzee’s Jus’ A Rascal and
a
David Rodigan-enhanced re-fix of
Breakage and Newham Generals’
Hard - don't forget the the ultra-rare
Break Em Out by
Breakage featuring
Roots Manuva too.
Much
like the very nature of a true Soundsystem the album features sweet blasts of tracks
from the likes of
Pangea (
Hex),
Dark Sky (
Neon).
Musical
Youth’s Pass the Dutchie and
Shy
FX & Kano’s chart-smash
Raver
(which some could say was the definitive release that yanked Soundboy from the
shadows and cast it into the emerging ‘bass music’ genre).
As
to be expected with three differing personalities and styles of production, all
putting their own stamp on this ripping journey through soundsystem culture, a
few mixes go wayward and perhaps mar an otherwise impressive mix (the Dizzee
into Gyptian mix is clanking and mistimed), and with other mixes dropping on
the front of the beat, at times it’s sloppy in its tightness.
But
we’re not listening to this particular mix for expert precision and indulgence
of hawk-eyed geekery – it’s a 46 track, no holds barred romp through everything fun and energetic
about modern contemporary music. Fabric may have gone more moody in recent
years, breaking down the barriers between 4-4 stylings and bassier output – but
the Digital Soundboy Soundsystem mix offers something that’s been missing from the compilation
series ever since the Scratch Perverts released their Beatdown compilation - a sense of carefree fun, full of anthemic
tunes, heads down crowd pleasers and surprising ditties to plonk a stiff grin
on your face. It’s something of an educating but hair-raising representation of how far homegrown
British music cultures have come – and for a label such as Digital Soundboy, it’s
only right that they used their position to do just this.