Album Review: Various/Digital Soundboy Soundsystem - FabricLive.63

The 63^rd volume of the FabricLive sees Digital Soundboy Soundsystem take the wheel for what is a wild ride, with 49 tracks vacuum-packed into 71 minutes. Beginning with Nina Simone's Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter, the blend created by Shy FX, Traits and Breakages moves across the gamut of bass, flavoured with clever surprises along the way. Zed Bias' Heavy Water Riddim into M.A.N.D.Y vs. Booka Shade's Body Language is such an example that provides fun, though it points to the dangers of being over zealous in mixes taking this slash and burn approach. With most selections only allowed one to two minutes of breathing space, skilful mixing and careful selection of songs is what saves it from being a messy and unpleasant listening experience. With the tracks flying past like a politician's promises, the possibility of examining the mix in anything but its entirety becomes difficult. However the mix of Musical Youth's pop hit Pass The Duchie into Mighty Diamonds, Mr Williams and Yellowman's Pass The Kouchie fits in terms of placement meaning and dynamic, setting up the final third for what is predominantly a d'n'b and jungle affair. Slowing it down one more time with Marka by Dub Phizix and Skeptical mixing into Dizzee Rascal's Jus' A Rascal (Soundboy Special) marks the beginning of the end, with Rascal's hyperactive vocal delivery summing up the compilation.

Indeed Fabriclive.63 refuses to be anything other than itself, and while in some places it feels as if it's just keeping it together, in others it sounds perfectly balanced. This is a mix for the bass hungry and may be a fitting tonic to get revved after another mind numbing working week.