The year 2000,and what a year for Drum and Bass, Surely, and undoubtedly one of the best years for the scene. It was thriving, more than we have seen in quite a while, and fresh new talent was cropping up in all different kinds of places. So what was it that made it so big last year? Well Bombsounds takes a look at an eventful 2000.
JANUARY 2000
We are formed, after a rename and expansion of our old site "Drum and Bass for yer face", we plan to give you the very best in drum and bass coverage and up to date news on the scene.
Teebee announced that he was to go on tour in the States over March and April. Much to the Americans delight. Future Cut's "Bloodline EP" hit the streets, and was an immediate hit with the scene, and canned all over the country. Noir announced that it was closing down, their final release was "Blue- Cosmos 729/ Firewire". Roni Size told us that he is working with some top Hip Hop Badbwoys for his next album, the scene is excited as they await the title of the new project. Planet V EP Series continues, when V announce that a part 2&3 are on the way.
FEBURARY 2000
Eastside's Majistrate & Embee start compiling a special EP Series entitled "Eastsides 2000", and Fuze is set to see part 2 of the Beyond Voltage LP. Eastside & Fuze also tell us that a new label called "Diagram" is on its way. Joining on the band wagon of artists and labels touring America are Biotic Recordings. They plan a May tour around the major cities in North America. The very successful club night "Music First" announces its comeback, it will hold a club night each and every Friday. Lunatic Calm appeal to up and coming Drum and Bass producers to send in their material, as they look for someone to remix their latest track "Basement Level". Smokers Inc. enhance their website by offering Real Audio and a back catalogue, they look forward to a busy year.
MARCH 2000
We see Photek taking to the studio to produce a double pack EP entitled "Lethal", and his label Photek Productions releases a "Sub Zero LP". Total Science start to produce the eagerly awaited "Advance LP" on CIA, they also set to make a return tour in and around America. Decoder's second Album is releasd "Concussions", it is his first after 2 years of waiting! A new label is formed in the shape of "Defunked" They offer us artists such as Carlito, DJ TeeBee, Subject 13 and Fellowship. Reports flood into the Bombsounds camp, that Breakbeat Era have split up, they cancel all of their tour dates and decide to take time off. "P Funk Era" Is released by Pascal, the long awaited True Playaz album is an instant success.
APRIL 2000
"Inside the Machine" is released by Bad C.O, is a massive hit, and Bad C.O prove that they are not just one off wonders. Shock hits the Bombsounds Kru, as we hear that L Double has been sacked from Galaxy 105, due to a restructuring of the stations schedule. L Double was one of our favourite Presenters, and was a firm favourite of the bombsounds camp. Terry Turbo, dreamscape promoter, offers help to budding promoters by setting up his own course on Club Night promotion.
MAY 2000
Good Looking release the third installment of the successful "Cookin EP" Series. Tech Itch snap up American ace Dieselboy, and plan an EP release entitled "Patriot Games". Pivotal reveals that they are in production of Compilation Album put together and Mixed by Peshay, entitled "Peshay Presents 21st Century Grooves". Defunked Success leads Fellowship into producing numerous projects to be released on the label. Untitled at the time, "Through the Eyes" by Full Cycle is finished, and to be released nearer Autmn time.
JUNE 2000
Fallen Angels work hard in the studio's to bring us an EP entitled "Back 2 the acid lab", they release samples on their website. The Long awaited "RS2000 / Science Funktion" track by EZ Rollers finally released, and shoots to number one in everyone's charts. DJ Hype, Zinc, Ray Keith, Nicky Blackmarket & Bailey bang out a track in their sets, that gets people's attention, it is revealed that it is infact a white label of Daz's latest offerings from the Juice camp. Kosheen reveals that they will be touring England in July, after much wanted attention by Fans. LTJ Bukem is all set to release his newest installment of the "Earth" Volumes, this being the fourth of the popular2 set. The Bombsounds Camp receive through the post early copies of Cert 18's "Branch of Knowledge LP" by Lexis, it not only receives good reviews from us, but by all the big guns as well.
JULY 2000
Reprazent fly off to Los Angeles to produce the video for their newest single track "Who Told You", taken from their next album. LTJ Bukem and Fabio link up for the first time in a while, to bring the house down at a top club night. Klute finishes his newest album "Fear of the People" We receive a copy a month or so before its release date. We receive emails galore telling us that they were in the Virgin Megastore when they realised that Big Bud was doing a mix live in the store in Oxford Street. And Dylan remixes that early nineties classic "Energy Flash".
AUGUST 2000
True Playaz tell us of a new album entitled “Playaz For Real” , which is set to contain 16 exclusive tracks. Hospital Records sign up new talent by the name of Danny Byrd. His first release will be in September. Reprazent promote their newest album by releasing a double single pack, which will contain “Horns” & “Hardway Intro”, two tracks that won’t be released on the album. “Unique Source EP” is Emcee recordings latest offerings after a very successful “Roller” track. Toronto’s Stranjah makes a name for himself, working for leed’s based “Flex”, & Mickey Finn sets himself sights on traveling to Australia to tour, after working on his latest Album.
SEPTEMBER 2000
Definitely the most quiet of the 12 months, September brings us little news of developments on the scene. Moving Shadow set off on their anniversary tour celebrations, along with their 10th anniversary mix cd “00.1” released. Finally, after months of wondering, we finally found out who did that “Genie in a Bottle” remix, it was infact Rareform.
OCTOBER 2000
After Ed Rush & Optical started to re-cover from there accidents that left them half deaf for months, they announce that they have a new LP in the line-up entitled "Creeps". It is their first release since the "Wormhole" album that received huge canning. Skunkrock's success leads them off onto a tour in the USA, accompanying with them were Klute, Konflict, Digital & Spirit, Dom & Roland and UFO. ATM celebrate their 50th edition of their magazine by taking a tour around England. After many months of waiting, Moving Shadow finally give us a release date for the 10th Anniversary CD, and Jazz & Bass 3 present by DJ SS is also released.
NOVEMBER 2000
The Bombsounds first ever Drum and Bass awards voting get underway. True Playaz sign up DJ Red. Infrared hold out on releasing the brilliant "Love is not a game". One of the best newcomer labels Pyraplastic, release a stormer of an EP entitled "World Domination". Ram Raiders 2 is released for us all to enjoy after the success of part 1. Ray Keith and Swift work together to bring some fresh new material for Global Thang. Bukem announces that he is bringing out a new series of albums, Conrad will also get his own set as well. "I need your Love" by Bassline Smith hits clubs across the country, and builds up and eagerly anticipated release. Total Science say they are releasing an album on Infrared pretty soon, although it may not get a chance to be released until Feb 2001. Pressure drop launch their website after a long wait, and London Electricity start to produce their second album, which will feature House vocalist "Robert Owens".
DECEMBER 2000
After high demand, the Ram crew reveal to us that the final part of the Ram Raiders Trilogy will be released in Feb 2001. “Tune In” becomes the next instalment for the Total Science click, as the year winds down for a long deserved rest and awaits for the new year to be born:)
