Rob Playford

Rob Playford continues to be known as “the busiest guy in jungle,” and it has probably had his hands in more areas of the business, artwork, and tradition of hardcore and drum’n’bass than some other solitary person. A DJ, documenting artist (2Badvertisement Mice, Kaotic Chemistry, Metalheads), label owner (Shifting Darkness), and ultra-visible dance music proponent, Playford, like Goldie, Grooverider, and DJ Buzz, is a staple within the hardcore picture since it exchanged its helium-shrill vocal examples and rave whistles for chopped-up breaks and thunderous basslines in the first area of the ’90s. A significant catalyst of jungle’s post-rave development spurt, Playford’s 2Badvertisement Mice task helped force breakbeat beyond its rave trappings, and, with Shifting Darkness as his engine, provides played an essential role in helping jungle’s development as an autonomous talent. A indigenous of Hertfordshire (simply north of London), Playford DJed home and techno with the past due-’80s height from the acidity house movement, following music into its harder component at decade’s convert. He self-released his very own monitor, “Orbital Madness,” and became an impression point for youthful performers and bedroom manufacturers seeking advice on how best to break right into the picture. Rather than carrying on to funnel skill to other brands, however, Playford created Shifting Darkness in 1990 (aided by way of a “how-to” publication on owning a small company), both release a his own materials and the ones of up-and-coming hardcore performers such as for example Blame, Mixrace, Flytronix, Danny Breaks (as Hyper On Encounter), and Globe Leakage Trip. In the beginning selling records from the trunk of his car, the stable development of the hardcore and jungle moments, along with the constant quality from the music getting its method to Shifting Shadow, supposed the label quickly became a full-time dedication. Shifting Shadow’s early catalog was dominated by Playford-related tasks, including 2Badvertisement Mice, the important trio Playford produced in 1991 with Sean O’Keefe and Simon Colebrooke. They released several club strikes through the first ’90s (including “Waremouse”), and so are widely acknowledged with releasing the very first critical glance of drum’n’bass in 1992’s substantial “Bombscare.” Among Shifting Shadow’s first graph successes, “Bombscare” charted in both U.K. (amount 43) as well as the U.S. (quantity 23) and it has offered through several pressings, reissues, and remixes. Playford’s additional main musical opportunity — Metalheads (the designer, not really the label), as well as Goldie — possess released several singles, like the substantial hit “Internal City Existence,” arguably probably one of the most important occasions in jungle’s crossover to common acceptance. The set also worked collectively on Shifting Shadow’s much-hyped 100th discharge, titled merely “The Darkness” and billed to Playford, Goldie, and Dominic Angus (of MS’s Dom & Roland). The Metalheads label in addition has been mounted on several remixes, including post-Happy Mondays group Dark Grape as well as the soundtrack for Objective: Difficult. Playford also constructed on Goldie’s full-length debut, Timeless. Shifting Shadow’s incessant drum’n’bass P.R. expanded in the middle-’90s to some local compilations (including Surprise in the East and Transcentral Connection), as well as the label provides increasingly forced the full-length format, with albums by Omni Trio, Bad Play, and E-Z Rollers all showing up. The label’s steady has also cultivated to one of the very most solid and acclaimed on the existing picture, with new-crop performers such as for example Ed Hurry, Dom & Roland, and Complex Itch all putting your signature on on. A reissue label, Re-Animate, was founded in 1996, and Shifting Shadow’s posting arm offers managed licensing for such well-known U.K. Television shows as Eastenders and Dad Ted. As well as the achievement of his label and documenting tasks, Playford was also the receiver of a particular award for exceptional industry contributions in the 1996 U.K. hardcore honours.