An installment of the always excellent Fabriclive series I’ve overlooked recently has been number 26 from The Herbaliser. Previous releases include a jaw-droppingly good Diplo mix, and equally excellent offerings from the likes of Grooverider, DJ Format, Scratch Perverts and John Peel, god rest his good soul. This one seems to be well up to the standard set here. It starts on a no-bullshit note with Million Dan’s excellent “Dogz and Sledges” and continues with a nice chunk of hip hop and funk numbers, before picking up speed half-way through with standout urban UK tracks from Demon Boyz, Cappo and Nextmen featuring Dynamite from Reprazent. This up-tempo pace is sustained right towards the end finishing off with some nifty breaks and, penultimately, the irresistable groove of Diplo’s “Newsflash.” You’ll be glad to find old skool classics such as Eric B and Rakim’s “Paid in full” deftly littered throughout the mix. Check it out.
