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Pearsall presents Mean Machine (A Metalheadz Tribute)

A tribute to the mighty Metalheadz label, featuring 13 classic tunes from the likes of Goldie, J Majik, Dillinja, and more.

Metalheadz

Pearsall presents Mean Machine

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Mixed in London, June 2008
(37:16, 256 kbps vbr MP3, 69.2 MB)

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Style: Dark drum n’ bass – a tribute to the mighty Metalheadz label

direct link to the mix:
http://www.sonicrampage.org/mixes/MeanMachine/Pearsall-MeanMachine.mp3

Tracklisting:
01. Codename John – The Warning (Metalheadz)
02. Ed Rush – Skylab (Metalheadz)
03. J Majik – Repertoire (Metalheadz)
04. Peshay – On The Nile (Metalheadz)
05. Doc Scott – Drumz ’95 (Nasty Habits Remix) (Metalheadz)
06. J Majik – Arabian Nights (Metalheadz)
07. Adam F – Metropolis (Metalheadz)
08. Rufige Kru – Dark Metal (Metalheadz)
09. Dillinja – Deadly Deep Subs Remix (Razor’s Edge)
10. Asylum – Da Base II Dark (Metalheadz)
11. Goldie – Kemistry (Grooverider VIP Mix) (Razor’s Edge)
12. Dillinja – Jah Know Ya Big (Metalheadz)
13. J Majik – Your Sound (Metalheadz)

Mean Machine (Metalheadz Tribute) by Pearsall on Mixcloud

Here’s a new(ish) mix that I recorded in June. It’s a tribute to the early years of the legendary Metalheadz label (including the short-lived sub-label Razor’s Edge), which was one of the key players in the transition (for both good and ill) of jungle into drum n’ bass. Established in the mid-1990’s by future tabloid-fodder Goldie this label, and the club night of the same name that ran on Sunday nights at the Blue Note on the (then-desolate) Hoxton Square, helped to define a new sound in drum n’ bass. This was a darker, more futuristic, more techno-influenced sound that helped move drum n’ bass away from its roots in the pop-pupilled days of the early 90’s rave scene. Eventually, sadly, this proved to be a bit of a dead end as people competed to make the darkest and heaviest tunes, and it all got a bit bleak (and hence the later turn to more tuneful, nay, cheesy elements). When drum n’ bass turned into heavy metal angst-breaks I was a bit put off, so moved over to the more cheerfully ravey silliness of the acid techno/trance scene.

For a moment, though, this sound just worked, and this is my tribute to that moment. It’s only a short mix, since I have sold off a lot of my Metalheadz tunes over the years, and I wanted to boil this mix down to the raw essentials.

This was recorded on two Technics 1210’s, with a Pioneer DJM-600 mixer, without any Ableton or editing, in one take. Enjoy!