Benjamin Goode listens to the Kings of Drum+Bass compilation, the soundtrack of summers gone and still to come.
The eighth instalment of the series is a rather excellent one. Featuring over two hours of seamlessly mixed drum and bass from Marc Mac of 4 Hero fame and Marky of well, Marky fame. CD 1 compiled and mixed by 4Hero is an exploration of the luxury sounds pioneered by Reinforced Records from 1990 to the present day and beyond. In other words there is something for everyone and there are some real highlights. Spread Love the Nu:tone remix creeps up on you and drops with alacrity of a new born chirruping sparrow, from here on in the compilation truly takes flight. Songs are allowed to run for a satisfying amount of time before the next one is borne in. As the compilation nears its end, almost as an afterthought, 4Hero cycles through some classic jungle dub plates, into the prototype hardcore of early rave, finishing on Sunshine by A Guy Called Gerald, pitch perfect loveliness.
The Marky CD is, if I had to to choose, my personal favourite of the two, if only because it is so keenly aligned with what I love about drum and bass. Reminiscent of the classic compilation The Brazilian Job (yes it is that good!) from the start it soothes, excites and eventually grabs you by the crown jewels all the way until the finish. Again, pin-point mixing blending modern classics, reaching as far back as the mid-naughties (Temperance, Nightflight), moving through to the year just passed and beyond. It works best when showcasing the innate musicality of the current Innerground recordings sound and the Marky and Friends brand, which is a sunshine lying, ten-draw blazing compilation of paranoia-free goodness.
Overall this drum and bass compilation is a stand out addition to the compilation canon (if there is such a thing), and definitely worth investing in because it will provide better returns than a state owned banker. If you love drum and bass this is essential listening.
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