fabric presents Overmono

Bacteria (DJ Mix)

I really love the atmosphere of this tune. It takes me to somewhere else for a while. Josh Wink was and is a great inspiration to us here at Virus.

Josh Wink - Simple Man - Optical Remix - Ovum 1998

Clip from LTJ Bukem - Universe 'Big Love' - 13th August 1993

Sonz of a Loop da Loop Era - R Yeah (Original Mix) [Unreleased Clip]

Advance

Shut Down

Dusk / TB or Not TB?

Dusk

Soul Trader

Next Level

Having first emerged as Rukus back in 2017, both Nico and Jon have been embroiled in the music scene for decades in various different forms. Natives of Bristol, the pair have a deep and long-standing love of dance music in all of its forms, such is the wide reaching arms of the city - embracing all within its rich musical history. From radio shows to promoting parties, from festivals to clubs and all point between, their teenage years spent in the 80s and 90s has left an indelible mark on their influences - a lot of which can be found on this, their debut album.


Born out of the roots of soundsystem culture, the early 90s boom of rave music and free parties soon found its way into their ears via mixtapes and pirate stations, then ultimately clubs. The deep cavernous basslines and frantic sped up breakbeats of hardcore drew instant influence and often direct samples from the 70s and 80s reggae, dub and dancehall emanating from Jamaica - just a quick look at some of the biggest tunes of that time can find the roots of soundsystem running deep in the rave - SL2 "Way In My Brain", Meat Beat Manifesto "Radio Babylon" and Lennie De Ice's anthemic "We Are IE". Finding themselves drawn to the original elements, Rukus soon developed a deeper love of dancehall and bashment, retaining that raw energy but moving closer to the source. Retracing their steps, the duo have created an album that not only shows the link between Jamaican music and the UK, but gives tribute to the many legendary tracks that were born out of it.

Parallels is about reverse engineering some of their favourite rave and jungle tunes, extracting the DNA and mutating it to develop something new - taking the rave back to the dancehall. Wearing their influences proudly on their sleeves you should be able to recognise some of the most loved classics such as Adam F's "Circles" and Dance Conspiracy's "Dub War" replayed in a new setting, but there's also some lesser known, but just as loved gems in there.

Adding vocals was a big part of the plan, once again the pair wanted to find MCs and vocalists that echoed the same symbiotic vibe. First up, Jamaica's Shanique Marie (who is known for her work with Equiknoxx) teams up with London's Trigganom for "Ride Or Die", opening the album with scorching intent. Elsewhere up and coming JA superstar Blvk H3ro blesses "Venomous" alongside Bristolian veteran Buggsy. Grime was never too far from the conversation, so up steps Roll Deep legend Killa P for an intense vocal on "Fallen" and Italian bashment don XL Mad on "Darkness". Another Equiknoxx cohort Kemikal crops up on "We Real", his lively chat riding the beat perfectly. On other tracks they've let the music do the talking, letting the genius of the original compositions shine through, but giving them that Rukus tweak.

In short, Parallels is a love letter to rave, skewed through a dancehall lens - giving a knowing nod to the past, but with it's eye firmly on the future.

Dub War (Chapter 6) - Rukus

This album is full of modern dnb, spanning all styles from neuro and uk to liquid. I hope you enjoy it.

Chrome Instinct

Was working on some meditation music and had to feel the bass and drums after becoming way to calm. So i made this little bugger.

Wazzup

Buy on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/visions-18th-anniversary-edition/id1082303664?app=itunes

http://www.john-b.com
http://www.facebook.com/johnbbeta
http://www.twitter.com/johnbbeta

History begins here: 18 years after its release, John B’s ground-breaking debut album ‘Visions’ receives a long-overdue remastering and full deluxe reboot. 

Aged with authority and authenticity: ‘Visions’ reminds us just how forward-thinking the Beta Records founder has always been. Strictly doing his own thing since he came into the game at 18; John penned ‘Visions’ as two distinct chapters, both parts grasping two of late 90s drum & bass’s most exciting sounds and pulling them into groundbreaking new directions. 

Part one, ‘Organic’ saw John swerve the standard sample-smashing of the era to create warm, full bodied natural grooves from real musicians. In a stark twist of contrast, part two ‘Synthetic’ foretold both the techstep phenomenon and his own angular, precision electro edge that were to soundtrack our entrance into the new century. One side au natural, one side machine manufactured: both techniques and approaches still dominant in drum & bass today... ‘Visions’ by name, visionary by nature. 

It also comes complete with total remake of his hugely successful Vangelis-inspired ‘Starburst’. Previously constructed on analogue synths, ‘Starburst 2016’ was re-created from the ground up with modern synths and contemporary production. While the scene continues to forage for antiquities, John shows us the other side of the sonic coin once again.   

‘Starburst’ isn’t the only track to enjoy an update: every track you hear on the album has been remastered. The production, however, remains timeless: No one knew how well ‘Visions’ would sound 18 years later. No one knew how well it would document drum & bass’s infant years. Still sounding slick and bursting with creative ideas, the album tells the story of both an artist and a genre growing up, fizzing with directions and ambitions.  

‘Organic’: A maze of mischievous jazz and funk experimentalism. A sharp sense of youthful melody and off-beat surprises await as we spring through the horn-heavy haze of tracks such as ‘Sax Therapy’, ‘Jazz Session’, the purring keys and slap bass of ‘Slamfunk (Moog Remix)’ and sunset soul of ‘Reflections’. The spacious, Orient-focused penultimate track ‘The Second Judgement’ teases for the darkness of what’s set to follow... 

‘Synthetic’: While the first part showcased John’s funkier, soulful musicality, ‘Synthetic’ really established his pedigree as a premiership producer. Forecasting today’s highly technical, synthetic production style you can hear John pushing his machines to their limits, finding new sounds and techniques. The wriggling alien bass of ‘VCF’, the razor-sharp Detroitian electro iciness of ‘Electro Shock’, the iron-fist two-step and sci-fi breakdown of ‘Travelogue’. Not to mention the clear proto techstep dynamics of ‘Sight Beyond’ and ‘Secrets’. Several years ahead of their time, they play a role in one of the most gamechanging chapters in drum & bass. 

No surprises, then, that ‘Visions’ found home in the selections of the most influential DJs at the time - Grooverider, SS, Adam F, Goldie, Photek. It’s here where John dug deep foundations for his fusionist, futurist signature: an amorphous sense of development and narrative, tightly balanced shades and contrasts, well-chiselled breaks and sharp synthesis.  

Every genre has its small selection of pivotal albums that show clear signs of progression, influence and documentation and brand new benchmarks: ‘Visions’ is an album that lives up to its name in ways John never could have imagined at the time. The future is now... 


Secrets (1997) (Preview Clip)

Danegurous- His Story Vs. Omni Trio - Soul Of Darkness Mashup

Optical is owner of Virus Recordings, Music Producer and DJ from England.
Bookings: UK/ROW: mark@esp-agency.com
USA: saleem@amodeagency.com

This page is dedicated to my sons: Aidan and Solomon, they are the inspiration for everything I do in life now.

"He is best known for his work with Ed Rush, fellow head of the Virus Recordings label, and as a pioneer of the techstep and neurofunk sound. His first single for Metalheadz, 'To Shape the Future'/'Raging Calm' (1997) and his collaborative material with Ed Rush, such as the Wormhole, album (1998) were archetypal developments in the style. The duo followed this debut album with The Creeps (2000) and The Original Doctor Shade (2003), as well as countless singles and remixes. More recently, the duo have returned to form with their (2009) LP 'Travel The Galaxy' containing the modern classic 'Chubrub' and 'No Cure' LP in 2015."

"He also notably did all of the engineering and production work for Grooverider's album Mysteries of Funk, and work on Goldie's 'Saturns Return' LP. In addition, he has produced solo for many labels including Virus, Metalheadz, Prototype, 31 Records, Metro and released in collaboration with many artists, including Ed Rush, Trace, Dom and Roland, Fierce, and his brother Matrix. The first Optical release was in 1996."

"Matt Quinn's savage dance floor productions as Optical (for, among many others, Groove's own label Prototype) have earned him a place in drum'n'bass's premier division.”

"Optical's pure, unchallenged talent shines through on his solo tunes, showcasing an artist well ahead of his time. No doubt the modern sounds of the likes of D-Bridge, Instra:mental and the rest of the minimalist dark revival heads, draw heavy influence not only from Optical himself, but from his inspirations in Jazz, such as Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. His ability to blend Jazz, Funk and futuristic, technical soundscapes is masterful. From his early work on Metalheadz and Prototype Recordings to his collaborative work on Virus Recordings and the classic Mysteries of Funk (Grooverider's landmark LP), Optical can perhaps qualify as one of the most underrated musicians of the modern era. His mind has crafted sounds which were never before heard, moods which were completely original, and his vision of the future, although ultimately dark and disjointed, is beautifully vivid and addictive. Its a world he pulls you into with each and every track and only a handful of artists can begin to dream of being this successful in their work."

Virus Recordings has become a DnB scene favourite and continues to release the ultimate in DnB vibes, with artists like C4C, Audio, Optiv & BTK, The Upbeats, Noisia, Gridlok, Ram Trilogy, Matrix, Rymetyme, Sonic & Silver, Pendulum, Mefjus,  InsideInfo

Josh Wink - Simple Man - Optical Remix - Ovum 1998

Optical ☣