Irish D&B producer Zero T has been steadily building himself a reputation as one of the underground scene’s biggest talents over the last decade, but we have to say that we were surprised to see him chosen for the FABRICLIVE series. Turns out they’ve made another superb choice.
The mix gets off to a tense, haunting start, soon exploding from atmospheric meandering in to hyper energy with a superb collaboration from Kabuki and rap legend Jeru The Damaja Watch Your Step – rolling, funk-fuelled tech step with rowdy rapping, much like Lynx & Kemo given a big dose of amphetamines. And after a slamming rework of Slam’s techno classic Positive Education by Zero T himself, the aforementioned duo slam in with possibly their freshest cut yet – the stomping, stuttering You Are Being Lied To, Kemo in more incisive form than ever. So far, so immense.
There’s something quite sexy about many of the rhythms herein and the lashings of low slung bass – a twist on the techy sound of old, with some soul somehow woven into the fabric (no pun intended). Jubei’s Distrust further underlines this new trend with its warm, caressing bass, but then things move from plain sexy to romantic and melancholy with Zero T’s sublime string-laden remix of All Thieves’ Stars, an album highlight. Rockwell’s Everything (& U) continues the theme with gorgeous harpeggios (yes, that’s an arpeggio played on a harp).
After such delicateness, the only sensible thing to do is to filth it out a bit, but as is the way with this expertly cobbled together mix, no one style dominates or overstays its welcome – so soon after the percussive frenzy of Dillinja’s When Love, we’re plunged into the fluffy deepness of Instra:mental’s remix of Commix’s sublime Japanese Electronics.
More drum & bass? Not yet, as SP:MC & Joker D’s ambient dub out Down is drafted in to halt the mix and give room for a breather. Icicle’s Xylophobia continues along this route with its dark, ominous bass and lolloping rhythm, before we’re switched into double time with the future garage flow of Compund One’s Pum Pum Beat and Exemen’s dark garage rub of Sia’s sultry Little Man. Some experimental gear brings us towards the end – Marcus Intalex’s afro-techno bouncer 21 playing a part – and can you guess what’s to finish? Some classy UK hip-hop intro D&B from Reds feat. Tehbis & Fee Lups on Green Lanes.
This is quite simply one of the best mix CDs we’ve heard in years, and one that should reaffirm anyone’s faith in drum & bass while also switching them on to some other flavours. Faultless mixing, programming that keeps you on your toes, and most importantly, 29 superb tracks from some of the world’s most forward-thinking and talented producers. And it’s pretty much all a UK ting. Representing in a big way, congratulations to Zero T. Crisis times at fabric? Not when the music's this good.
Tracklist:
1 - Paradox - A Certain Sound (Alaska & Paradox Lost DAT Mix) [Paradox]
2 - Kabuki feat. Jeru The Damaja - Watch Your Step (Need For Mirrors VIP Mix) [V]
3 - Ulterior Motive - Seven Segments [Unreleased]
4 - Slam - Positive Education (Zero T Remix) [Soma]
5 - Lynx & Kemo - You Are Being Lied To [Detail]
6 - Icicle - Ocular [Shogun Audio]
7 - Zero T feat. Script - Guessing Games [Footprints]
8 - System - Speed of Light [Footprints]
9 - Lemonde - Heaven [Valve]
10 - Jubei - Distrust [Shogun Audio]
11 - Break - Wine [Symmetry]
12 - All Thieves - Stars (Zero T Remix) [Footprints]
13 - Need For Mirrors - Sick In The Head [Footprints]
14 - Rockwell - Everything (& U) [Darkestral]
15 - Artificial Intelligence & Krust - Audio Assault [V]
16 - Fracture & Neptune - The Limit [Astrophonica]
17 - Dillinja - When Love [Valve]
18 - Zero T feat. Steo - Walk Away (Zero T Reprint) [CIA]
19 - Genotype - Dubsoca [Unreleased]
20 - Commix - Japanese Electronics (Instra:mental Remix) [Metalheadz]
21 - SP:MC & Joker D - Down [Unreleased]
22 - Icicle - Xylophobia [Shogun Audio]
23 - Compound One - Pum Pum Beat [Compound One]
24 - Sia - Little Man (Exemen Remix) [Long Lost Brother]
25 - Ation - Missing You [Unreleased]
26 - Equinox - Space Dub [Scientific Wax]
27 - Marcus Intalex - 21 [Soul:r]
28 - Calibre - Reach [Unreleased]
29 - Reds feat. Tehbis & Fee Lups - Green Lanes [Footprints]