Name: Optical & Trace - 'Switchblade' (unreleased Virus dub 1997) by Optical ☣
Duration: 7 min 37 s
Description: Back on the crusty 10" dubplate recovery mission....1997 collab between Optical and DJ Trace...made in Virus Studios in Soho London.

Release this on a Metallic Virus Plate with What's the difference? on the other side❤️

Equinox - I Control [Scientific Wax Retro SWR011]

Bleep, bleep, bleep...rare experiment from Optical, made in the Metrostore in Acton, first day in a new room to try out a track and never released....(complete with bad hiss from lining the plate up to dj with ;o])

Optical - 'Codek' (unreleased 1999 Virus)

Back on the crusty 10" dubplate recovery mission....1997 collab between Optical and DJ Trace...made in Virus Studios in Soho London.

Optical & Trace - 'Switchblade' (unreleased Virus dub 1997)

Thanks to Rymetyme for letting me post this dub from 1998...dj battle weapon!

Rymetyme - 'Strong Arm' (unreleased 1998)

Headsbass Spring/Summer edition is here!! Featuring a beautiful mixture of liquid, breaks and eclectic beats from a high calibre cross section of both returning Headsbass family and newcomers, plus a wicked mix from Melinki.

With World Mental Health Week taking place from 9th to 15th May, we have incorporated the first week of singles by releasing Auris, SOFi MARi & Hillside on 13th May, followed by Shodan & R4NS0M on 20th May and Sub:liminal & Aaron Payne ft. Beatmool on 27th May. Full album drops 3rd June 2022.

https://soundcloud.com/r4ns0m

https://soundcloud.com/beatsinmindheadsbass

Big love to everybody supporting, see you all again in October!

Tracklist:
Alpha Rhythm “Everfrost” [Scatterbrain Remix]
Sub:liminal “Horizon”
Shodan “Go For The Jungler”
Metaphysics “Walking Through”
Marc OFX “New Story”
Near Edge “Polo”
Russia & Sola “Undercurrent”
Auris & SOFi MARi “Paths Separated”
Finnadrift “Like Water”
Hillshade “Runaway”
R4NS0M “PBR”
Virtue “Moonlit”
Aaron Payne ft. Beatmool “Contemplating”
Digital Pilgrimz “Emotional Content

Pre-order

PREMIERE: R4NS0M - PBR (Beats In Mind)

One of my favourite tracks in my career, made in Soho, London in 1997 with DJ Fierce...it had only 4 parts to it and most of the way it builds was done by hand by driving an eq slowly more and more and changing the settings on the reverse reverb...an experiment that worked out nicely.

Optical & Fierce - Side Effect (1997 Virus dubplate)

A highly psychedelic remix, sorry for the excess distortion but that is plates for you...Mute Recordings, 1997. (Update: New clean version here now...by the magic of 2014 restoration software ;o])

Toenut - Test Anxiety (Optical Remix 1997)

Enjoy, took some time cheers!! help this studio !! peace & love.

GUN part 2 Reloaded EP

Behind The Mirror v1.3 VIP(gangster version)

Opius - Journey Beyond - [2023 Free D/L] ♡

Bass-ically a threesome between my fav genres. In the same time a tribute to StereoTotal with samples from the legendary track with the same name, which means threesome in french.

L'amour à trois

DUB-ONE - COOL N DEADLY [Scientific Wax, SW025]

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

Optical & Trace - 'Switchblade' (unreleased Virus dub 1997)

Optical ☣

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