SPECIAL REQUEST - SOUL MUSIC

In a similar vein to Zomby's 2008 album 'Where Were You In 92', Paul Woolford is set to release his own ode to pirate radio, exploring Techno and Jungle under his Special Request moniker. There are 1 minute snippets of each track online and the vibes range from  Pearson Sound/Kowton-esque excursions , Reese driven tracks and straight up techno . I'm loving the recent revival in breaks orientated music but I don't want it to be just like the 90s house revival. There has to be progression. After Millie & Andrea's (Miles Whittaker & Andy Stott) output in 2009 I was hoping more producers would explore that hybrid territory.

It's times like this that I think to myself what would Ratty do?

I can't talk about Techno and Jungle with mentioning Basement (not Da Bassment - Devante Swing's crew who are equally as important to me) . Growing up in Reading - Phil Wells via Basement records and his store the Record Basement were pioneering 'Jungle Techno' & DnB from people like Kev Bird, DJ Mayhem,Top Buzz, Jack Smooth (Ron Wells), Wax Doctor, even Photek (under his Sentinel alias) and Source Direct (under their X-Files alias).  Sadly, I was in huggies during the raving heydays at Nitrous and the Rivermead but old enough to go to the store before I moved away and it shutdown. Apart from Mike Oldfield, Sam Mendes, to a certain extent David Lean, Jeremy Kyle and Ricky Gervais - Reading's cultural output and influence has been minor so if it is to be known for anything let it be Basement records.

The opening track 'Forbidden' sound like it samples both the piano melody and the bassline from Saunderson's seminal track. This euphoric new take on the classic is one I very much look forward to hearing in full. He does get props for sampling Rochelle Jordan's 'Pressure' on 'Soundboy Killer' which features on my mix but he hasn't really done the sample justice compared to something like Zomby's Aaliyah sampling 'Float', that said, I'm prepared to eat my words if once released it turns out to be a banger.

The Sade sampling 'Broken Dreams' which came out on his latest 'Hardcore EP' is forgettable. 'Black Ops' reminded me of DJ Crystl's classic 'Warp Drive',  whilst 'Capsules', 'Deranged' and 'Descent' all whet the appetite. It's not until Anthony Naples track that I'm really gripped - his melancholic 'Eternal Remix' of 'Mindwash' has been a late night special of mine and this new 'Aftemath Remix' of his is like a kushed out version of 'Dred Bass' and will certainly be getting a lot of spins from me. I picked up his debut on Mister Saturday Night from Phonica just because of the Pharrell sample and he has continued to impress - especially with 'I Don't See Them'. He's definitely one to watch.

Between the originals and remixes there's more than enough new material to keep you happy. However, I think my problem with the release is that the tracks are too clean - they are purpose- built for today's clean cut dance floor and seem to lack the raw energy of the 'golden era'. That said, Hackney Parrot VIP is a banger. With the sample of GQ's signature 'Wheel and Come again' from a Kenny Ken A.W.O.L set from 94 he neatly blends the old with new and hopefully sends some people running to Discogs whilst pleasing old skool heads. This is not an album for reminiscing or meditating like Lee Gamble's dreamscape 'Diversions 1994-1996' it's more in line with Lone's club focused re-imagined rave tracks. What is does mean is that you can get some jungle drum tracks into 120-130bpm set without drastically changing tempo.

Kenny Ken - AWOL - Live in London Vol 2 1994 by Rave Archive Uk © on Mixcloud

This is the problem with putting up snippets - you allow people (like me) to form judgments based on limited info. You can listen to them here but I'd advise waiting until you can listen the work in full and blast it out preferably whilst joyriding through empty streets late at night.

The triple LP drops October 7th with the CD & Digital on the 21st on Fabric in house Houndstooth label run by the mighty Rob Booth. Pre-order here.

Tracklist:

CD1
01. Special Request - Forbidden
02. Special Request - Undead
03. Special Request - Cold Blooded
04. Special Request - Body Armour
05. Special Request - Lockjaw
06. Special Request - Ride VIP
07. Special Request - Soundboy Killer
08. Special Request - Broken Dreams
09. Special Request - Black Ops
10. Special Request - Capsules
11. Special Request - Deranged
12. Special Request - Descent

CD2
01. Tessela - Hackney Parrot (Special Request VIP)
02. Lana Del Rey - Ride (Special Request Remix)
03. Special Request - Mindwash
04. Special Request - Alone
05. Special Request - Mindwash (Anthony Naples Aftermath Remix)
06. Special Request - Lolita (Warehouse Mix)
07. Special Request - Vapour
08. Special Request - Deflowered (Kassem Mosse & Mix Mup Remix)
09. Special Request - Mindwash (Anthony Shakir Remix)
10. Special Request - Capsules (Lee Gamble Full Length Remix)
11. Special Request - Deflowered (Hieroglyphic Being Remix)


Gem : Om Unit on Metalheadz out now.