Never Enough Notes e-zine // reviews + interviews + music

Hospital Records is half of a third of ten years less than a century old this year, and they’re celebrating that milestone with a heavyweight multi-format attack. It’s a veritable trolley dash of brand spanking new cuts, VIPs and mixes from the Hospital crew and their various affiliates, on CD, twelve-inch and MP3. This review covers the two-disc CD release.

There’s something for everyone on this compilation, which, paradoxically, also means there are some things that won’t be for everyone. Naturally any review is simply an expression of the reviewer’s personal taste, rather than an objective analysis, so I have decided to divide disc one’s fifteen tracks into three categories – Indispensable, Decent and Meh. Feel free to disagree – that is your democratic right – but this is my review, bitches, and I don’t compromise. Much.

The Meh category consists of one tune, Netsky’s VIP remix of “Everyday” by Rusko. It may seem harsh to single this one out, but it’s the only one that I honestly think brings nothing to the party. I apologise to Netsky’s legions of fans, but I have to be honest. The original remix was a jagged and reasonably grr drumstep piece that didn’t adhere to his established formula, while the VIP is Netsky-by-numbers, with his usual drum break, tame bass and little to make it stand out. Surely he’s made something better that could have been included?

Anyway. On to the Decent category. Here you’ll find Nu:Tone’s satisfying if not hugely exciting remix of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep”, a slightly less-than-stellar offering from Camo & Krooked called “Reminisce”, S.P.Y’s “Untold Future” (a chugger which probably sounds better dropped at the right point in a mix than it does over a home sound system), T.C’s polished “New Frontier”, which is occasionally undercut by some really bad synth noises, “Dumptruck” by Blokh4d and Gridlok (a really nasty, head-nodding break in search of a slightly nastier head-nodding tune), emotional euphoria in the shape of Muffler’s “4 Years” and burbly stepper “Swag Bag” by up-and-coming Bristolian producer N3gus. These are all good, if not brilliant, tunes, and even if they don’t always hit the heights of which Hospital artists are capable, they at least ably demonstrate the label’s diversity, and their knack for nurturing interesting producers.

And finally, to the Indispensable category. ‘Ere be treats galore! High Contrast provides an eagerly-awaited VIP of his classic “If We Ever”, beefing it up with a massive intro and a generally more militant feel. Logistics delivers deep, dark sizzler “Closer”. Reso, for my money one of the best new producers out there, once again shows his consummate skill at combining insanely detailed, intricate arrangements and melodies with full-on, full-fat grrr with the fabulously deranged “Voices From A Distant Star”. Danny Byrd brings the jump-up with the pumping “B.R.I.S.T.O.L”, whose bizarre half-gangsta half-nursery rhyme vocal (can we maybe get a dub?) is more than made up for by a midpoint transition to clownstepping knees-uppery. Label boss London Elektricity sculpts a sumptuous, sophisticatedly funky VIP mix of “Song in the Key of Knife”, which, if there’s any justice in the world, should be snapped up by a film director to soundtrack a slick chase sequence any day now. And rounding off this catalogue of eclectic, high-quality drum and bass are “Find My Way”, a lovely, warm roller from Fred V and Grafix, and “Late Nights”, a chunky, clunky clompfest from Royalston, who, alongside Reso, is one of the top purveyors of intelligently grimy whomp. These seven highlights justify the price of the album by themselves, and that’s before you even get to disc two.

This disc features Cyantific’s fantastic “History of Hospital” DJ mix, a whistle-stop tour through over thirty classic Hospital cuts, mixed on three decks. It’s a brilliant mix, full of ingenious blends and double and triple drops, and balances well-known fare like “Shock Out” and “If We Ever” with more leftfield choices from Icicle, Apex and Q Project. Technically impressive and moving cleverly through a multiplicity of moods, I guarantee that this is a drum and bass mix with real staying power, one you’ll be psyching yourselves up to pre-club for years to come.

A fittingly stylish celebration of an excellent label. Roll on twenty years!