Back in 2012-2013, at the apex of jackin’, ruffneck UK bassline house, a very distinct tune was making the rounds. It would start off somewhat typically – feelgood warehouse energy, rave paraphernalia, a smooth but firm crescendo... before cutting off abruptly into menacing laughter and abyssal hoovers, only to feint and drop into UK-funky-tinged house viscera anchored by, arguably, the most severe wobble bass since “Spongebob”. I was one of few privy to this absolute belter, and even so only via a lo-fi rip which happened to disclose that it was a Hostage tune in the filename. I renamed the file “the mad one.mp3” and eagerly awaited a full, official release. It never came. And so, another legendary tune had slipped through the cracks and had been lost to the vicissitudes of the industry. That is, until I recently hit up Mr. Alan Parley, pka Hostage, and persuaded him not only to dig it up for me, but also do me the honor of releasing it with us on Tessier-Ashpool. It is then that I finally found out that this long-time staple of my 4/4 sets was named “NT1” – a contraction of “now this one”. Fitting.

Hostage - NT1 (Toddla T BBC Radio 1 Rip)

It’s the way that you feel for the sound..

Drastic Arts is the spiritual successor to Tessier-Ashpool Recordings. Drastic Arts' only mission statement is to ever proselytise that human art is more important than human life. Drastic Arts is currently accepting demos. Drastic Arts is chaotic good or lawful evil, depending on your vantage point. Drastic Arts aims to obtain religious tax-exempt status. If you say Drastic Arts's acronym twice in quick succession, Tristan Tzara smiles in his grave.