JANUARY 2001
A new year is born, and no longer are we ready for 2001, than when we are hit with a whopping big virus that infects our system knocking us out of action for 5 weeks. We miss an entire month of drum and bass news:(
FEBURARY 2001
Back after the lay-off, and already we see a good year ahead. Metalheadz email us to announce they are making a comeback in the scene, and are ready to blast off with Future Cut "Obsession/Tear Out Your Heart", John B "Up All Night/Take Control", Marcus Intalex "Universe/My Soul/Lose Control" & Rufige Cru "The Beach/Stormtrooper (VIP)". Progression Sessions go on tour, Foundation (USA) kick off their debut club night, Pilote begins his UK Tour for Cert 18. The Knowledge drum and bass awards saw Andy C win best DJ, with Ed Rush and Optical winning best Producer, Teebee winning best International.
MARCH 2001
Pyrotechnic Radio celebrates its first anniversary and speaking of stations, Kool Fm, changes it frequency from 105.6 FM to 92.4 FM, and hits the scene with some great news that it is about to go 24/7 online. The drum and bass world was saddened in March, with the death of respectable MC Charlie Brown, condolances poured in from all members of scenes. Wilbur, Fabs and Groovy's BBC producer leaves the duo to work for BBC Digital. John B launches his very own website as do Stakka and Skynet. Knowledge magazine also release onto the scene their very own online store for the masses. Lemon D becomes the next hot signature on the True Playaz crew signing up for the label. Doc Scott remixes Klute's "Chicks", which goes on to be one of the best remixes of the year.
APRIL 2001
Kosheen hit the mainstream with "Slip and Slide". It is canned on every station in the country and hits the UK top 20. Shy Fx confirms his Deja Vu LP will be released anytime soon. Paradox reveals its first release will drop in May. Hospital Recs start to broadcast their own show on Ammo City Radio. We become the first site on the net to report about Goldie signing to BBC's soap opera EASTENDERS. Underfire's Clockwork LP Sampler is raved about in the scene, Blaze FM become the next station to change frequencies, 99.5 to 94.0 FM.
MAY 2001
Chris J signs to Phuturistic Bluez. Intalex excites the scene with news that he has started up his own label entitled "Soul;r", revealing the first release to be 4 track EP. Hidden Rooms III starts to get underway by the Cert 18 crew. Knowledge announces a new distributer for their magazine, meaning more copies available in more places! London Elecktricity play live on Radio 1, as do Fabs and Groovy in Leeds for ONE LIVE. Cybotron LP from Dillinja is finally released. After over a year and a half of waiting the scene is able to pick up there own copy. Intercom recs launch an online merchandise store. A seven track promo CD of Skibadee's Platinum Performers project is released for the scene to sample.
JUNE 2001
Lunacy EP from Usual Suspects is finished and ready for release. Elecktra is a new Webzine set up for underground electronic music. Total Science release Audioworks Compilation for a measley price of £4.99. Form 3 are a new label set up based in Cornwall. Panoptica releases debut tune on Cert 18, Rob F and Impulse are to release the first tune on new label Shadow Law, on the talk of new labels, Critical Recordings is another new label to enter the realm that is drum and bass. Goldie debut's on popular BBC soap EASTENDERS. The debut 12" from High Contrast "passion / full intention" on Hospital is released. Rikki Blue (aka BLUE SONIX) released his first 12" single for Aquasonic Records.
JULY 2001
Cert 18's Polar finishes work on "Still Movin LP" as does Teebee on "Through the eyes of a scorpion", and Moving Shadows "Killa Bytes 2" LP is released. Danny Breaks also finishes work on his newest album and DJ Rap announces that she is re-opening her old label Proper Talent. 'Synthetix EP' by DJ Die is released on Full Cycle recs. T.O.V start their own club night a monthly at South London's Club Colosseum which starts on the third Saturday of every month. John B hits the scene with his brilliant "Future Reference LP" quite possibly the best album of the year. DnB Arena also finish on their own little album.
AUGUST 2001
A quiet month with Paul Arnold of Certificate 18 assigned by MINISTRY Magazine to review the new Breakbeat / Leftfield section. Fabio signs Shy Fx, who is set to release "Sweet" on his label under Shy's Agent Black moniker. ESB finishes putting together and Urbnet CD. Moving Shadow announce plans for a remix classic series. Advisory get ready to release "Wheel up EP" with rmx's from Kenny Ken. Nerve Recordings release Tension and get ready to do a follow up, they also launch their own website.
SEPTEMBER 2001
Loxy and Ink sign to Goldie's Metalheadz. Stranjah's latest EP is storming the big named DJ's sets leaving a happy Flex crew busy for weeks. Battlemaster records is a new label set up as is Inperspective set up for more abstract soundz. Sampler for Teebee's album is released and has the scene buzzing with anticipation. Z-No of Streetbeats scores the soundtrack to a short film by Robert Morgan called "The cat with hands". After a while in the wings, Matrix finally starts his own label Idioma with "Fallen Remix / Bad Dreams" due. Mampi Swift releases "Feedback EP" another fantastic EP to hit the stalls this year. Sonic and Silver set up their own label also "Science Fiction" with Soul Food / Summer Of Love to be released.
OCTOBER 2001
V:recs release the Flavour EP, Wrisk touches down with the Upskirt Remix for Gain recs and Nucleus signs up to Reinforced. D-Region’s remix of Illfingas’ classic anthem "Union Station" is available on Furious Recs. A video is made for Recharger, Nerve's second release. Goldie.co.uk is Goldie's newest compilation album which hits the mainstream stores worldwide. Teebee is lined up on various Radio 1 shows as his "Through the eyes of a scorpion" LP is released. "Harder they Come" series is talked about in the scene. Renegade Hardware, whose tunes haven't been of great all year put together the masterpiece which is due to be released in december / january.
NOVEMBER 2001
A month of signings as Calibre signs up to Phuturo, Defunked signing up Razor, Pyro signing up to Perspective and Delta signing on at Hospital with Bassline Smith signing to Chronic. Klute finishes work on his "Anything And Everything EP", and also signs up Juju's "Zaid's Tune" for his label. Moving Shadow releases its classics series. Aquasky are ready to release their fifth single on their respective label "Sonix". Shy FX also tells bassheadz, that they will have to wait until March next year to get a copy of the amazeing "Shake It" single.
DECEMBER 2001
Leading US label Thermal signs up the debut album from UFO, entitled "The Future Is Listening". Sidewinder/HelterSkelter Drum&Bass Awards 2001 prove HYPE to be the DJ of the year, with SKIBADEE as best MC. Streetbeats release a three track EP from Z-No. The "Snapshot" remixes are relesed much to the delight of the bassheadz and basically the rest of the month is taken up with labels releasing their schedules for 2002, bring it on baby!
