With the deep house revival in 2013 in full swing, and dubstep yawning and looking for a spot to kip, it seemed the bold, ostentatious electro stylings from the Ed Banger family had faded ever so slightly.
Fear not – Ed Banger Vol.10 is here to remind you why Pedro Winter, perhaps better known as Busy P has always had a knack for selecting the best and brightest in his stable.
Having celebrated their 10th anniversary this year, the record features a strong offering from a variety of much loved acts within the Ed Banger crew including Justice, Mr Oizo and Cassius to name just a few.
Is it everything you’d expect from the label? Absolutely. Does it push any new or exciting boundaries? Not quite. The label has always had a definitive stamp to their sound and while this compilation nails their boisterous, often hyper-active sound to a tee, it isn’t miles away from what you would expect.
Mr.Oizo brings a jittery, pulsating crunchy groove with ‘Secam’ while Mickey Moonlight’s ‘Transition’ is a real stand out here. Dreamy synths combined tight snares and hi-hats lend an interesting garage feel that one mightn’t expect to appear here; Justice’s ‘Brianvision MMX111’ is somewhat beige by comparison. Sebastian’s ‘Moi’ closes things off and appropriately steeped in the hyper drama only Sebastian can offer.
Elsewhere, Cassius’s ‘Sunchild’ with it’s plodding bassline and stabbing keys that weave in and out, is beautifully layered; gentle but with plenty of je ne sais quoi.
All in all, Ed Banger Vol.10 worthy tribute to an indispensable label.
