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ESSENTIAL MIX WITH ED RUSH & OPTICAL Broadcast 07/02/99 : 02:00 - 04:00 |
Drum’n’Bass duo Ed Rush and Optical have just release their new album ‘Wormhole’ and are providing this weekend’s Essential Mix.
Where were you and what were you doing musically when you got together?
Optical: We met through friends and often met each other at Music House cutting dubplates. I was working on my own musical projects at the time.
Ed
Rush: We were both living in West London, I was
releasing tunes on various labels and DJing.
What do each of you bring musically to the partnership?
Optical: Ed Rush was making music for a longtime before we met. He has a great sense of what works on a dancefloor.
Ed Rush: Optical brings his diverse musical talent and knowledge to the outfit, his overall understanding of textures and depth is second to none.
How does ‘Wormhole’ differ from your previous solo projects?
Optical: More exploration, more depth sonically.
Ed Rush: As I’ve got older my taste, attitude and preferences have matured. I think there is more of a funk element, but we still keep the attitude.
If your music was a soundtrack what movie would it be?
Optical: A Hitchcock thriller.
Ed Rush: I would like to think musically we are more suited to a science fiction theme, something like the 5th Element.
What are your first memories of drum & bass, what were the tunes and what were you doing at that period of time?
Optical: I was working at Great Asset Distribution in the studio and DJing at outdoor, free raves. I thought the use of breaks in house and hardcore was much needed. The progression to D&B was even better.
Ed Rush: Oxford, in a field ten years ago at the Spiral Tribe phat parties. The tunes were Naz AKA Naz ‘Started Again’, Ajax EP ’28 Gun Bad Boy’ and A Guy Called Gerald. I was studying at college and had just bought a pair of 1210’s.
What is your proudest achievement on vinyl?
Optical: ‘Lifespan’, ‘Crisis’ and ‘Wormhole’.
Ed Rush: ‘Mothership’ and ‘Lifespan’.
What pisses you off?
Optical: Everything (at one time or other).
Ed Rush: Shit sound systems and MC’s with verbal diarrhea.
What is your favorite…?
Hip hop track?
Optical: Schooly D’s first album. I loved the beats and rhymes.
Ed Rush: EPMD ‘So What Cha Sayin’’ and Redman ‘Pick It Up’. Both produced by Eric Serman – phat!!!
Techno track?
Optical: Lenny Dee ‘Incinerator’ and ‘DX 13’. Extreme hard New York techno with amazing distorted sounds and bass.
Ed Rush: Joey Beltram ‘Close Grind’. Clever arrangements, amazing loops and tight percussion.
Drum & bass track?
Optical: Impossible, it changes every few hours.
Ed Rush: Too many to mention.
House track?
Optical: ‘20Hz’ by Capricorn I think. Simple, with bad percussion and chimes at the beginning.
Ed Rush: Kevin Saunderson ‘Uptempo’. Very rollin’.
Name three living legends in music.
Optical: RZA, Herbie Hancock and my brother Matrix.
Ed Rush: James Brown, Eric Sermon and Dillinger.
Is 1999 going to be a big year for drum & bass?
Optical: The progression of the sound continues, it will be another good year.
Ed Rush: I think the whole foundation of the scene is so strong now, although with the amount of worldwide interest it can only get stronger.
Why did
you turn down all the major label deals that were offered you last year?
Optical: I get up when I like, work when I like on what ever I like. We have total control of our lives.
Ed Rush: No one could offer us a deal we were totally happy with, it is important for us to have control of everything.
What are your plans for your record company, Virus?
Optical: Keeping the right vibe to the label with more quality releases this year.
Ed Rush: We have several 12’s line up and plans for another new album.
The Track Listings....
MC Ryme Tyme & Optical - ‘untitled’ (Dup Plate)
Bad Company - ‘The Nine’ (Renegade Hardware)
Original Unknown Ram Trilogy Pt. 3 - ‘Terminal’ (Ram Records)
Jonny L - ‘Unknown’ (XL Recordings)
Ed Rush & Optical Wormhole VRS 001 LP - ‘Fixation’ (Virus Recordings)
Origin Unknown Ram Trilogy Pt. 2 - ‘Mind Overload’ (Ram Records)
DJ Trace - ‘Sonar’ (Prototype Rec's)
DJ Krust - ‘Warhead Rmx’ (V Recordings)
Matrix - ‘Unknown’ (Metro)
Bad Company - ‘Pulse’ (Prototype Rec's)
Ed Rush & Optical - ‘Bacteria’ (Virus Recordings)
Usual Suspects - ‘I Give The Orders’ (Renegade Hardware)
MC Ryme Tyme - ‘Payback Pt. 1’ (D-Sci-4)
Roni Size (DJ Die Rmx) - ‘Watching Windows’ (Talkin Loud)
Matrix - ‘Unknown’ (Dub Plate)
Ed Rush & Optical - ‘Funktion’ (V Recordings)
Bad Company - ‘China Cup’ (Dub Plate)
Ram Recordings - ‘Iron Lung’ (Dub Plate)
Optical - ‘Newoptic’ (Dub Plate)
Ed Rush & Optical Wormhole VRS 001LP - ‘Dozer’ (Virus Rec)
DJ Die - ‘Clear Skies’ (Full Cycle)
Usual Suspects - ‘Sin’ (Renegade Hardware)
Usual Suspects - ‘Killa Beez’ (Renegade Hardware)
Ram Trilogy Pt. 3 - ‘Chase Scene’ (Ram Records)
Ed Rush & Optical - ‘Watermelon’ (Virus Recordings)
System Error 99 - ‘Origin Unknown’ (Ram Records)
Ed Rush & Optical - ‘Gasmask’ (Virus Recordings)
Optical & Fierce - ‘Beachball’ (Renegade Hardware)
Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce - ‘Alien Girl’ (Prototype)
Ed Rush & Optical Wormhole VRS 001LP - ‘Slip Through’ (Virus Recordings)
Ed Rush & Optical - ‘Sick Note’ (Virus Recordings)