No matter what you may think about the current carnation of
Hospital Records – the label owned and run by Tony Coleman and Chris Goss – the forward
thinking drum and bass label have always been leaders in new sounds and
pushing the barriers of where the template of 'bass and drums' can go. Each
Hospital artist – back in the glory days of the Hospital Mix compilation
series – had their own stamped identity. London Elektricity brought the
musicality, High Contrast brought the melodies, Logistics brought the tech; although,
for this humble reviewer, the label may have lost its way of late (focusing
more on brand identity and sound rather than individualism), there are many
great introductions that the label will always be thanked for. No matter the
sound, they took the drum and bass world and cast it full throttle into the
mainstream consensus, and roping many new heads in the process.
And it’s with this commercial-leaning, worldwide angle that
the first half of this fifteen year overlook comes from. Opening with High
Contrast’s long awaited ‘If We Ever’ VIP, the original jungle rythyms are
beefed up and updated with more sub bass, and walls of crushing, jump-up sound.
Netsky’s VIP re-reimagining of Rusko’s‘Everyday’ features only minor
differences from the anthemic first attempt. Logistics’ hapless droner ‘Closer’
is an interesting addition, but difficult to imagine as really ‘classic’ by
anybody’s reckoning and is ultimately quite forgettable. Equally Reso’s
sugar coated ‘Voices From a Distant Star’ does not the DJs best work, but
however does enjoy a suitably beefy drop. An obvious highlight of the first
disc is Nu:Tone’s new re edit of one of 2011 most remixed tunes, Adele’s
‘Rolling in the Deep’. Having already been plied with an expert drum and bass
spin by Spectrasoul earlier in the year, this one would have had to be pretty
good. Luckily Nu:tone’s effort confidently stands up to Spectrasoul’s and
breathes some new life into this well-trodden track.
With the first disc done and dusted, it’s on to the second ‘History
of Hospital’ disc. This comprehensive mix – delivered by robo-loving tech-step
man Cyantific – chops and turns through a selection of the mostly prominent, beautiful
and best-selling tracks around. Kicking off with a superb medley of Return of
Forever, Calibre’s remix of ‘Globale Love’ and Danny Byrd’s compression
overload on 'Ill behaviour’, it’s clear to see that the second disc will appeal
to fans of Hospital, both old and new. Moving through stone-cold killers such as
Logistics ‘Call Me Back’, London Elektricity’s 'Billion Dollar Gravy' and High
Contrast’s permanent DJ-set fixture ‘The Basement Track’ it’s a comprehensive
look through South London’s finest d’n’b export.
Although some of this reviewers favourites from throughout
the years were not included ('Different Drum', 'Racing Green', 'Red Sky At Night' and 'Juno Six' for example) – and a
hit and miss first disc (depending on your drum and bass persuasion in these
days of sub-sub genre), it was only a matter of time that Hospital would
attempt to collect the many accolades and huge tracks into a double-disc
compilation. Whether you like it or not – and whether you think they could have
chosen a better selection of tracks here – the label is an undeniable force in
modern, urban dance music. Familiarise yourself with the tracks of old and the
nu-breed of today and decide for yourself.