Bedrock – Stomp

I cannot hail Bedrock enough at the moment. John Digweed’s label is truly inspirational with respect to the progressive sound and each and every release seems to redefine the sound further and build the desire to lose it at a Bedrock club night back in the mother country more and more. “Compiled and Mixed” is the follow up to Digweed’s own in this series and highlights the vast sound Jimmy Van M is responsible for pushing onto American audiences through residency at New York’s Twilo. The double CD contains tribal-tech, progressive stirrers (as opposed to stormers) and dark grooves and after one listen the first thing that comes to mind is just how refreshing this is.

Playful laughter, a steady pace and a fusion of gorgeous effects gradually seduce with opener “Night Stalker” from Mo Shic and Zeidan with the groovy beat crystallizing as it encapsulates. The senses are awakened further in a cruisy, sultry manner through “Late Night” (Dissonant dub) by Floppy Sounds and the beats start to roll on and into “Circuit Breaker” (John Creamer & Stephen K remix) by ECVM.

The selections on the first CD won’t make you break out in a sweat but will definitely get you in the mood with its captivating, sometimes downtempo, maturity. Anticipation rises with the infectious, sample heavy and dripping “Control of Sound” from Prototype and the enticing, crisp, beat-laden Steve Porter remix of “Mothership” by Trancentral Station. The highlights of CD1 are Jimmy Van M’s own “Love Like Sleep” with its funked up bassline and a rock-steady beat that introduces a new vitality to the mix and the Filterheadz remix of “Struggle For Pleasure” from Minimalistix.

The second CD opens with the exceptional “London” from John Johnson, capturing the underground beat, eclectic vibe and creative energy found amongst the cobblestone streets, ancient buildings and modernist sprawling metropolis which is England’s capital. Quivver throws the gauntlet down in the echoing harrowed halls of “One Last Time” and smooth, sultry house takes over with “Soulfeel” from Van Bellan. There is a real sense of urgency throughout the latter half of CD two as feverish, chaotic numbers such as “Mansdisco”, “Bon Voyage” and the piercing “Deep Blue” from Nuclear Ramjet are all introduced with pulsating energy. Overall though this is a release that oozes sophistication and, as described in the sleevenotes, could more than likely result in an innocent Saturday night at home with some choice company stretching out until well into Tuesday.