S.o.t.D. - What’s Up – Ed Rush

What’s Up – Ed Rush

While for the most part I like music that is a bit more mellow. I do however harbour a very large soft spot for the granite hard stylings of one Ed Rush and his cohorts. That mid 90’s tech step they were largely responsible for - a dark, nightmarish milieu in which to construct jaw dropping beat and bass concoctions - was so great. I can’t be in the mood for it very often, but every so often those jack hammering beats and that rumbling bass really hits the spot.

S.o.t.D. - Cutslo (Lokuste mix) – Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce

Cutslo (Lokuste mix) – Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce

There is a long intro to this, but I have it at the monstrous lead up to the drop, which is absolutely devastating.

S.o.t.D. - Mad Different Methods – Ed Rush, Trace & Nico

Mad Different Methods – Ed Rush, Trace & Nico

Dark, grimy, rumbling, ominous, powerful - exactly what to expect from these masters of the genre.

S.o.t.D. - Check Me Out – Ed Rush

Check Me Out – Ed Rush

Oh I did and I liked what I heard. Fat tune.

S.o.t.D. - Killamanjaro – Ed Rush & Nico

Killamanjaro – Ed Rush & Nico

Rides that line between ominous and mystical. 

S.o.t.D. - Mothership – Ed Rush & Nico

Mothership – Ed Rush & Nico

If I had to rush into a burning house to save some vinyl, I think the Torque LP would be one of the ones I would grab.

S.o.t.D. - Technology – Ed Rush

Technology – Ed Rush

Pure power.

S.o.t.D. - Subway – Ed Rush

Subway – Ed Rush

“Oy mate, I’m ’avin’ a ’ead rush!”

Oh that bass!

S.o.t.D. – Squadron – Trace & Nico

Squadron – Trace & Nico

When it comes to drum & bass, I tend to prefer the more mellow and melodic end of the genre, generally the sort of stuff that LTJ Bukem and his collaborators are known for. But on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, I love the dark, ominous mælstrom that Ed Rush and his collaborators (Fierce, Trace, Nico, Optical) are responsible for. The album this is from, Torque (which featured virtually all those lads), comes across as the soundtrack to a dystopian sci-fi movie where drones circle a nuclear holocaust battlefield as robot tanks do battle. Sounds very unappealing, but I LOVE this album. This track sounds like they sampled every sound that a Challenger or Abrams tank can make. The point at about 2:30 where the song really kicks into gear - good gawd!