When Shapes Mix Together
This mix shows the future direction of the label, with new signings alongside the long-standing Tru Thoughts family.
In the words of Tru Thoughts A&R Robert Luis…
‘‘The last time I did an official DJ mix for release on Tru Thoughts I was joined by Quantic and we had to put together a double CD for an MTV associated release. The Tru Thoughts label was relatively new then and there were points where we struggling to link tracks or do mixes we were happy with, as the catalogue of the label was relatively limited. Fast-forward a decade or so, and this set to celebrate Tru Thoughts’ birthday is a very different situation – I really had so much quality music to choose from and it had to all fit on one CD!
This mix shows the future direction of the label, with new signings alongside the long-standing Tru Thoughts family. It opens with a hip hop influence: Hint goes space-age hip hop with rapper T Fly; Quantic’s Cumbia project covers Missy Elliot; and London legend Rodney P drops a track with a positive message (which we released after the UK riots in 2011) featuring Mighty Moe and other big hitters in the scene. Anchorsong takes us into slow disco/boogie territory before Beta Hector roughs it up with his psychedelic bass basher (helped by an Alice Russell classic scream) followed by Nirobi dropping the Bollywood beats.
Sleepin’ Giantz is a heavyweight project from Zed Bias, Rodney P and Fallacy, and the track you hear in this DJ mix has been a huge anthem in club sets for the DJs who have managed to get hold of an advance copy. The album it is taken from is one of the best hip hop albums you will hear! Zed Bias is then joined by Mark Pritchard (Warp / Harmonic 313 / Global Communications) for a bass anthem before we move into Debruit taking the Brazilian groove of Saravah Soul down a heavy club route. Hint shows his versatile production styles with his remix of Lanu before we hit drum & bass territory with A Sides’ remix of Mark de Clive-Lowe.
The set finishes off with the more mellow side of Tru Thoughts. Ambassadeurs take Nostalgia 77 through some synths and basslines; Kinny shows her powerful voice to full effect, and then Belleruche unveil their new style. I just had to include a snippet of the title track off the Quantic & Alice Russell album (you need to check the full version to appreciate those strings) and we finish off with a classic from Maddslinky’s influential first LP.
Please make sure you check out the other releases by any artists whose tracks you are particularly into on this DJ mix, as there is plenty more good music to be heard from them all.’‘