Sorry for the quality...its the only recording I have right now but I remember making it vividly....it had no arrangement...just loops on a desk with live drops...I know you can tell...but it's a reminder that making parts that talk to each other really well means arranging a song is much easier in the long run.

"Its actually me and Trace in 1998...it was made from drums taken from a cassette tape and some old orchestral sample pack that came with the E6400 sampler....never sounded great quality-wise but was a nice experiment I think, and I loved those drum loops so much even though there is no good version of them out there...it only exists now on some crusty 10" dubplate from Music House, so lost to the sands of time I guess. Never had a real name BTW. Wish I had a DAT of it but alas no."

The clip is DJ Trace's last tune of a set he and Ed Rush played whilst in New Zealand and it would now seem apparent, that apart from the lost DAT/dubplate Optical eludes to, that this may be the only copy in existence.

Optical & Trace - Untitled (Unreleased Virus Recordings Dub 1998)

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

rockin' the town like a moldy crouton... flyin' through the air with brace...

oldschool dnb head. Had a radio show on KSCU 103.3 from 97-00. DJ'ed around SF and pretty much lived for tha DnB beats....until I had to keep a real job and pay rent. 

Musically my first love was 80's rap, anything with a nasty 808 beat. I then found funk (thanks to a neighbors 8 track collection that was being thrown out) and was addicted to parliament-funkadelic, mandrill, undisputed truth, etc. In the early 90's, after a random mystery pick purchase of a cassette tape at a local record store, I stumbled across Miami bass (dj magic mike, techmaster PEB)...I had that on repeat until teh early years of the interwebz (mid 90's) delivered  me a clip of an oldschool jungle/DNB mix. It was love at first listen (sight?), and instantly became my passion....and so as it begun, my love affair with syncopated drums and a bassline continues. A happy tale of accidental discovery through exploration...the story of an addict, a beat addict that will never be, nor try to be, rehabilitated.   

bottom line...I love beats, bass and yer moms face.


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Optical & Trace - Untitled (Unreleased Virus Recordings Dub 1998)

Optical ☣