Make text bigger  Make text smaller  Toggle background color  Bookmark/Share

Free Range Chase & Status Review

Having been abroad for the two weeks leading up to Free Range, and entrusting my mate with fifteen of the Queen’s pounds to buy a ticket, I couldn’t go. Touching down, and getting a text saying that it had sold out before he’d had a chance to get them, made the return to Heathrow after a 9 hour flight that much worse.

Chase & Status

However, my guardian angels must have been looking out for me, as I managed to get a spot on the guestlist just at the last minute! After several pints of cheap lager at the Hobgoblin, it was time for a jay and shortly afterwards, The Zodiac.. we arrived just in time to see Chase and Status, who were a good start to the night - with some classics thumping out. Kano’s short but sweet appearance lived up to my expectations. Ps and Qs was duppy, and I was really glad to see him grime-MC. I had heard big things about Beardy Man, and he did not fail to amaze, although different, I’d liken him to a young Biz Markie in some respects (Jazz Cafe 19th March).

JFB made the night by playing possibly the best track ever to have been produced: Paid in Full. I’ve certainly waited a long time to hear that played at an event. At the start of n-types set it was back to some serious jamming. I never made it upstairs, though have since heard good things from mates who did. All in all it was a fantastic night, perfectly concluded with a Bodrum’s on the way home.

Roll on the next Free Range….

Words: Sasha


DMZ 8th Nov @ St Matthews Church, Brixton

This was my first time at DMZ, the legendary dubstep night held once every two months at St Matthews church. The venue itself is one of my favourites, many a hazy night spent here. The people who run the venue know how to put a good party on every time, and as usual this night did not disappoint. After getting in past the always overzealous security (whose frisking methods could find your last smartie) it was time to get messy.

With the likes of Digital Mystykz, Loefah and Skream it was always going to be heavy. The night started off with the sound system a little quiet, but as it rolled on the bass got heavier and heavier and the tunes got sicker. Finding myself in the middle of an absoultely rammed dancefloor, the vibe was off the hook. 

The set of the night undoubtedly went to Skream, whose tunes were so bass shakingly heavy, I found myself needing a piss for about an hour but not being able to tear myself away for a single second. The real surprise was the sheer variety of tunes, proving that Dubstep can as diverse a genre as Drum and Bass. In the middle of the set I found myself entrenched in a head banging moshpit of sweat, with the lighter crew out in force.

Big props to Mr Lager and Alys Blaze, who had one of their tunes dropped with a rewind. Selctaaaa.

With grime, drum and bass, and hip hop influences there was enough variety to satisfy everyone without compramising on any quality, or more importantly Bass, there was no attitude from anyone, it was all love.

By 6am it was time to get booted out, I think its fair to say if you love Dubstep, get yourself down to the next night. If youve never heard Dubstep on a massive system, this is the place to do it. This night touched me in a way not even Micheael Jackson with small boys could be capeable of.

Overall verdict? unmissable


Para - It’s The Hornet/The Hideaway 7″

para 7 Para   Its The Hornet/The Hideaway 7

I’ve just been given the heads-up on Para’s next audio delight available on Breakin’ Bread Records, a 7″, the A Side being titled ‘It’s The Hornet’ and the B Side ‘The Hideaway’. Starting out as a scratch DJ, Para has always had an ear for a good tune and has recently, with the help of Skeg and the rest of the BB fam, developed into a very fine producer.

This record is so dope it’s even been knocking on the doors of BBC 6 Music’s Craig Charles. For more info, on Craig check out the Funk and Soul Show on BBC 6 Music. To get your hands on this treat of a dancefloor smash / soft summer 7, hit up Fat City. Now! You can check audio of both tracks on the Breakin’ Bread Website.

Here are some reviews of It’s ‘The Hornet/The Hideaway’:

DJMag Review:

Para - It’s The Hornet (Breakin Bread) Another month and another great 7″ from Breakin’ Bread. Para kicks off ‘It’s The Hornet’ with fat stabs like Led Zep’s ‘Good Times Bad Times’, then has the good sense to let his right-hand keep a constant stream of scratchadelic action rolling over the heavy-assed breaks he’s assembled. ‘The Hideaway’ on the flip splashes your hothead with some delightful afro-jazz grooves, and piles up enough wah-wah’d weirdness and horny horns. Nice one.

Fat City Review:

Para is back on Breakin Bread with more funky breaks goodness, ready to rock the floors! ‘ It’s The Hornet’ is a mid-tempo funky dancer! The flip is more up-tempo, full of cuts and scratches! Fans of All Good Funk Alliance, Supersound etc should definitely check this.

Be sure to check the Breakin Breads Myspace too. Word.