#DJWarden’s #BaggedAndTaggedRecords, which celebrated its second anniversary in May, has rapidly established itself as a reliable purveyor of high-calibre jump up drum and bass. Having already curated twelve colossal releases, the label’s head honcho has now hand-picked four heavyweights of the game to revisit tracks from the B&T back catalogue for its first ever remix album. #TheRemixEPVol1 finds a selection of 2018 anthems spruced up for 2020 by some of the scene’s brightest stars: #Heist, #NuElementz, #Slipz and #DNasty.
Essex jump up royalty Heist should need no introduction. As one of the genre’s earliest trailblazers and an affiliate of countless top-tier drum and bass institutions including #Metalheadz, #LowDownDeep, #Viper and #IntegralRecords, it makes sense that his contribution to the EP kicks off proceedings. #TacklingVital and #Phenom’s coarse, trance-influenced belter “#HoeMoney”, he garnishes the track with intricate plucks and razor-sharp basslines, staying true to its original character while adding enticing new twists. Next up, #TheForce’s “#BornEvil”, instantly recognisable in its original incarnation thanks to its distinctive snare and yelping leads, is dramatically transformed by Kent producer #NuElementz. Deploying barbed synths which imitate the original track’s melodies, the Bites co-owner redefines the track as a more abrasive number, dominated by high-pitched staccato synths reminiscent of his past releases on labels like #Playaz, #V and #SweetTooth.
A remix of #Vital’s “#Mayhem” by fast-rising Nottingham native #SLiPZ ensues. As a former grime producer, he’s uniquely qualified to tackle the #AJTracey-sampling snarler, turning his hand to the track with subtle furnishings including nostalgic eskibeat bleeps and exhilarating, bitcrushed passages. Finally, #Trafalgar’s euphoric stepper “#Afraid” is given a brutal update by #RampageFestival favourite #DNasty, who stays true to the song’s stuttering, syncopated formula while using entirely new sound design to do so. An electrifying affair from start to finish, #TheRemixEPVol1 serves the dual purpose of reminding listeners of the historical gems in the label’s arsenal while giving them welcome refurbishments courtesy of titans of the scene. With 2020 serving as Bagged & Tagged’s busiest year to date, who knows what they’ve got in store for us next.
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