...written and compiled by spank.

Flux Collective Faking Monkey Music/Mellow Occasion (Slack)

Numero uno outing for Birmingham offshoot Slack records. Moving out of their bedrooms and into the studio the Flux Collective’s production is surprisingly slick, distancing them from the majority of today’s big beat production. Both sides are laid back enough to work as both a smoker’s delight or a breakbeat boy’s jive. ‘Monkey Music’ is reminiscent of Strata 3’s ‘It’s Not A Man’s World’, complete with orchestration and a chopped up and filtered sample of Wildchild’s ‘Renegade Master’. Flip side ‘Mellow Occasion’ is a slightly oriental affair with flutes and acoustic guitar on a beat-scuit base.9

Emulator 3D Music (Mutton Head Records)

Emulator’s first release stood out for little more than it’s superb novelty title, ‘Germany Make the Best Pencil Sharpeners’. Fortunately ‘3D Music’ rejects the Atomic Jam techno fodder approach instead taking a note from the French. The tune flexes, filters and flanges in all the right places, albeit a little speedily. 7

Gearwhore The Picture (Astralwerks)

Astralwerks was originally conceived as a means of getting UK dance tracks out to the USA. Astralwerks now see fit to return the favour. We gave the States the like of Fatboy Slim and the Chemical Brothers. They give us Gearwhore and his uninspiring slab of acid breakbeat. Time for some drastic action. Send the Brits in! In comes Chief Lieutenant Cut La Roc of the Skint Regiment who strips the track down and rebuilds it even salvaging the original vocal to its pure and untampered form. 6

Source Direct Mind Weaver (Science/Virgin)

Whilst many on their drum and bass playmates are turning out jazzier, funk edged records, Source Direct remain adamant that they don’t want to play ball. With each release the darker and menacing Source Direct come. This one-sider 12” is no exception. Both the trademark moody and sinister bassline and beats so sharp they hurt are in full working order. But whilst you might admire the power of the aggression, 8 minutes on into the track you wonder whether they’re wasting their time and energy kicking and punching on the same spot. No one likes a school bully! 7