It’s been a long day today, but I’m pleased to end it with yet another banger, as April and 100 days of the blog approaches. “Matrix & Futurebound” is not just a funky name for a solo DJ, they are two juggernauts of the UK drum and bass scene in the 90’s with a rich tapestry of rave culture behind them. The two veterans combined forces in 2005 and they released a full-length project, Universal Truth, two years later. With hints of pop-centric production and songwriting, the collaborative duo decided to lean into a bit more and give the charts an injection of the drum and bass sound that defined an era.

Control came along in late 2013, and it brought with it a wave of credits for the pair. BBC Radio 1 loved it, and it got as high as seven in the UK Top 40. Max Marshall is on vocals duty, and it is quite a task as the track is vocal heavy, especially for two stalwarts of the underground dance club culture. It is anthemic in its grandeur, with an immense drop that seems most at home in a club. However it is more subtle than more pure forms of drum and bass, feeling quite melodic and something that, maybe, even your parents wouldn’t mind if they ventured out of a weekend.

That sounds like I’m diminishing the track, but actually, I am impressed by the fine tuning on the production end that has transformed this record into a delicate balancing act between affording the respect and acknowledgment of the roots of drum and bass whilst pioneering its movement towards the masses. I’m fairly sure no one has ever referred to this song, or in fact any drum and bass, as delicate. First time for anything.

 

Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex