Future Classic Presents LTJ Bukem & Bassic Crew, Underbar, 10.29.09

There is going to be a major party going on this thursday at Underbar hosted by Future Classic, and if you’re into breakbeat oriented music then I really shouldn’t have to give any sort of introduction to LTJ Bukem. But in case you aren’t familiar with him here goes: you see the word “legend” at the top of the flyer? There’s a lot of producers out there who are labeled as legends- however Bukem is one of the few who truly lives up to this label. Bukem, along with DJ Hype, Andy C, Roni Size, and Goldie, have shaped drum and bass music into what it is today and without people like him pushing the sound early on it may not have ever existed in the first place!

LTJ Bukem was especially instrumental in helping pioneer the atmospheric/laid back drum and bass sound in the mid-1990s. His record label, Good Looking, is one of the most respected in the genre; many releases from the label fetching a tidy sum of money in the second hand market nowadays. His Logical Progression compilations have sold hundreds of thousands of copies; in drum and bass this is the equivalent of going multi-platinum. After taking a break for a few years, Bukem is back in top form, running the label again just like in it’s heyday a decade ago, producing, and DJ-ing. He has tracks in his flight case by top producers that even other A-list DJ’s (let alone us punters) will not have access to for months. And not that I’m necessarily for or against it, but Bukem is one of the last few DJ’s out there who still plays dubplates, which is not something you see from a performing artist much these days!

 

And don’t forget about C-Dubs, who’s mixes have been favored and reviewed on here in the past, along with Scotch 1 (aka Nuggs), who can destroy a dancefloor regardless of what side of 160 bpm he plays on. Get there early to check these guys out, this is a huge gig for them so you can guarantee they will have plenty of goodies in store for the earlybirds.

Let’s go back to 1995 for a bit to warm up to one of Bukem’s old essential mixes, shall we? And unlike a lot of DJ’s who have been playing since those times, much of the spirit of what he plays today, even almost a decade-and-a-half later, remains true to the essence of what he plays here.

1995.07.16 - Essential Mix - LTJ Bukem MC Conrad Part 1 by Blanche