What's Grimey in the UK? Part II

Jamie xx

Earlier this month we here at THiCK BEATS told you about Night Slugs, whose single 'Wut' by Girl Unit might be the hottest track out of the UK right now, through our ongoing What's Grimey in the UK? series. Today, in Part II of our series, we are proud to introduce you to one of the most talented DJs/producers from across the pond right now.

Jamie xx (Jamie Smith) is the Mercury Prize winning producer behind one of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2009, 'xx' by The xx. Over the past two years while working the MPC at The xx's live shows and producing tracks for the band, Jamie found time to make some music of his own. His first single, 'Far Nearer', debuted late last month on Xfm in the UK and should be available for purchase soon through Numbers records. The result is a Caribbean-steel-drum-laced 2step track that doesn't disappoint.

Jamie xx - Far Nearer (as heard on Xfm):

But Jamie's work outside of The xx doesn't end there. Yesterday Jamie released an excellent remix of Nosaj Thing's 'Fog'.

Nosaj Thing - Fog (Jamie xx Remix)

Earlier this year he released the 10th mix for Paris' famed Colette store.

Which you can download and listen to here.

And who can forget what was probably the best remix of last year, The xx remix of Florence and the Machine's 'You've Got the Love', which of course was produced by Jamie xx and features vocals from the rest of the band.
Florence and the Machine - You've Got the Love (Jamie xx Remix)

Until next time...

...keep it grimey massive!

Magnetic Man - Dubstep's Daft Punk

For dubstep fans from around the world one of the year's most talked about releases is the debut LP from dubstep's first (and only) supergroup, Magnetic Man. Consisting of South London dubstep superproducers/DJs Benga, Skream and Artwork, Magnetic Man has already sold out their first full tour of the UK and they are set to debut their self-titled album next week.

What started out as a secretive three-man group, performing anonymously behind a white sheet at seminal London dubstep club night, Forward, back in 2007, has escalated into one of the most talked about live shows across the pond. This is thanks to a major label deal with Columbia Records and a £750,000 light set-up that was the talk of last summer's festival season in the UK.

Harnessing their major label powers and superheroesque name, Magnetic Man have enlisted the likes of neo-soul crooner John Legend and the first lady of dubstep Katy B to lend vocals to some of the tracks on Magnetic Man. Taking cues from all aspects of electronic music in order to broaden their audience beyond the close-knit London dubstep scene, influences from genres as diverse as DnB to Trance and everything else in between can be heard on their excellent debut. In essence Magnetic Man are trying to take dubstep to a new level and they're not going to let anyone get in their way.

Check out the video for their latest single 'Perfect Stranger' feat. Katy B, which features Magnetic Man's incredible light set:

Until next time...cheers!

What's Grimey in the UK?

Night Slugs

Here at THiCK BEATS we like to get down and dirty to some of the grimiest cockney beats from across the pond, so we figured what better way to keep our readers informed than to start an on going series called

What's Grimey in the UK?

First up we have Night Slugs (Bok Bok and L-Vis 1990) a record label/club night/DJ duo out of London. When Bok Bok first announced Night Slugs as a club night through his blog back in March of 2008. He described Night Slugs and their sound as follows:

"L-Vis 1990 and I are proud to present our new club Night Slugs, a much-needed London hub for all types of fun and bottom-heavy banging club music.

...Not to list genres or anything, but we'll be playing brand new niche and classic garage, club-orientated grime, all types of global ghetto musics and jackin house, as well as showcasing new producers who are bringing all these sounds together and creating totally original ones. Night Slugs will be as much a place to hear brand new exclusive material as a celebration of the gutter club heritage. Most of all its about energy and vybz."

Since March of '08 Night Slugs have really come into their own in London Town. The club night quickly developed into a record label full of artists sharing the same Gutter House/Grime/Heavy Bass sound. Today Bok Bok and L-Vis 1990 also host a weekly radio show on famed London dubstep/grime/DnB pirate radio station RINSE FM, the same station that helped make dubstep DJs such as Benga and Skream a household name in the UK.

Night Slugs boast an impressive repertoire of in house productions - songs such as “United Groove”, “Ripe Banana”, “Compass” and “Citizens," which have appeared on a variety of labels including Diplo's "Mad Decent."

Here is Night Slugs latest mix for Мишка's Keep Watch mix series. Listen and enjoy cuz this one is a banger.

Night Slugs: Keep Watch Mix Vol. XX

Download the full mix here and stay grimey massive!