Diverted have built their reputation for energetic live sets via their monthly residency at London’s Air, seeing them playing alongside acts including the likes of The Bays, Justin Robertson’s, Thee Earls, Kraak & Smaak, Minuit and The London Breakbeat Orchestra. In February this year, they opened at Breakspoll 2009 providing almost an hour of live breakbeat, with Lee Richardson drumming at the centre seeming to have the solid timing and consistancy of something you’d buy from Roland or Casio.
Breakspoll 2009 was the first time I had had seen Diverted perform live, having already bought Frederick, as well as hearing their vocal edit of dub-step Visions on YouTube, I was suitably impressed, and it only made me even more curious to hear what their debut album was going to sound like.
Diverted’s album sees them carry their own, but also team up with the likes of Nathan Flutebox Lee (The beat boxer that also somehow manages to play the flute at the same time) as well as Rhys Baker (Our Own Devices) and globetrotting Australian MC, Nine Lives the Cat. Stand out tracks on the album include Frederick, the dub step banger Visions, summer smasher Summer Hiding featuring the rather haunting harmonic vocals of Danielle James and Big Baby Fear.
The album sounds really polished, warm and there is a dark undertone to its sound. It features a wide, wide, wide range of musical genres on it, from your basic club style breaks to vocal driven dub-step to intricately drum filled glitchy electronica to some rather warm summer-esque jazz. There is seriously something for everyone, give it a chance, it’ll be the best £9.00 you could spend this side of a recession… better still also go see them live, you wont be disappointed!
I’m always happy to see an artist who I was more or less obsessed with in earlier times, inadvertently follow my similar musical paths as my tastes change from one second to another. Baobinga has always be one of my favorite producers and his tunes, historically, have graced my mixtapes more than any other artist. I think a major part of his appeal for me is his unbridled appreciation for, and application of, current music’s roots and influences. Not in a tawdry way like some people often do, assuming a hoover means its a ‘rave’ tune or a half time beat makes it ‘dubstep’. He has a clear grasp of the subtleties and nuance of what makes a song unique. Boabinga’s proficiency is evident in this pair of little mixes he’s given us to give to you. He’s also been kind enough to give a little description of each tune a la discobelle’s mixin it up series.
The first is an ode to the ever present Amen break. Starting with Baobinga’s native breaks genre it works its way up to drum and bass, both new and old, ending with, IMO, the best drum and bass tune of the decade, Danny Byrd – Shock Out. It also has Krust – Cloaking Device which made me larph. I hadn’t heard that on in eons. Here’s what he said about it:
“So I played before Potential Bad Boy on NYE in Milan this year, and the promoter asked me if I could link things into his set a bit. I didn’t want to play a load of new DnB and take any shine off him, so I put together a bit of a classics set. Which then got me thinking about how many of them were based around the Amen break, which got me thinking about how much I love the Amen break… and hence the following mix :)”
01. Skream & Cluekid – Sandsnake – Disfigured Dubs
Not a huge amount of Amen’s in dubstep, but this one is badman tings…
02. Baobinga & I.D. – Extravaganza Man – Pure Filth
…and double drops with this surprisingly well! We’d been chatting with Ollywood about how great Bonanza Kid is, and he challenged us to do our take on it. It then developed into a tribute to our favourite jungle tunes – count the basslines, basically!
03. Backdraft – Time To React – Downbeat Productions
The best Amens in breakbeat. Forgot how utterly heavy this is.
04. Baobinga – The Session – Fusetrax
The first tune I did that got any attention really. Spoke to Kalbata recently and he told me he used to cane this tune, which was nice to know :)
05. Remarc & Simpleton – Unity (Re-Mix) – Kemet / Planet Mu
All of Remarc’s stuff is doubly impressive when you think about what he most likely made it on…
06. Remarc – RIP – Suburban Base
Nothing to be said.
07. Ray Keith – Jah Dread – Dread
The most brutal Amens ever. I played before Ray Keith ages ago and brutal (in a good way) would describe his set. Glad I had ear plugs though.
08. Breakage – Stagger Dub – Critical
Biggups to Jim from Eastern Bloc for pulling this out for me about 5 visits in a row until I recognised its greatness.
09. Digital – Waterhouse Dubs – Function
First time I heard that riff it absolutely blew me away. Still does really. Great sub.
10. Krust – Kloakin Device – Full Cycle
Can we have this Krust back please?
11. Zinc & Eksman – Roll Slow – Bingo
Pretty simple Amen business but it rolls so nice. I saw an interview with Zinc where he said he was in the studio one day, called up Eksman who happened to be in the area, he came to the studio and put this down and before they knew it, it was a massive tune. Wish my tunes came together so easily.
12. Cool Hand Flex – Must Feel (Serum RMX) – Mac II
Strictly jungle, but fully modern.
13. Q Project – Credit Crunch – Hospital
Massive Q Project fan. Much harder than his usual stuff but equally amazing.
14. Dub One – Volcon – Xtinction Agenda
This is why I love record shopping. I’d decided I’d do this mix but I wanted to get something pretty fresh on there. Went into Eastern Bloc and Jim pulled this out for me. Perfect!
15. Dawn Raid – Try To Believe – Rain
Have played this out at the end of sets for quite a while now. Always sends everyone batshit mental.
16. Danny Byrd – Shock Out – Hospital
Good times to finish with :)
The second is a more modern and diverse affair expressing Baobinga’s varied and unique taste. The focus on big beats is obvious though. He also had something to say ’bout this one:
“Well, I did a mix for Mad Decent not so long ago and that had a load of dubs from me and my crew in, so I didn’t see the point in repeating that concept. Also that mix was done on Ableton, and it was cool to work that way, but I love going into town and picking up 12″s from the various record shops in Manchester (which really is a great city for anyone into record shopping), and then working them into a mix the ‘proper’ way (ha!). So I had a few records that I’d been meaning to use in a mix for a while, and figured this would be a good chance to pull em out. Some are old, some are new, and in a couple of places shit gets pretty old school, but a general theme of interesting drums and plenty sub seems to shine through. Hope people enjoy it!”
01. The Cool Kids – 88 – XL
Great drums, and lots of em.
02. Bangers & Cash – Shake That – Downtown
Depraved filth, 808 subs and lyrics like ‘man this dick to cash that cheque’. How could anyone not like this?
03. Dukeyman & Lil Mama – Git Da Handclap (Remix) Crosstalk International
Wicked drums, nuff sub and a repetitive vocal sample… Pretty much the essence of good dance music right there.
04. Jan Driver – Rat Alert Dub – Made 2 Play
Not house, not breaks, but sonically and rhythmically so interesting.
05. 2000 And One – Get Down – Intacto
I’m a massive fan of 2000 And One. When he gets it bang on, like with this one from 2005, he can just loop up some tuff drums and I’m happy.
06. Rod Lee – Let Me See What You’re Working With – Dress 2 Sweat
Pretty much my favourite label of 2008, such good quality control. The new Rod Lee one is great too.
07. Seiji ft MC Dolores – Todo Mundo – MAN Recordings
Chopped this one down a bit afterwards to keep things moving, but the fantastic production still cuts through.
08. The Body Snatchers – I Like What I See (HiJack RMX)
Passenger – Fidget without the stoopid.
09. Rob Le Pitch – Sticky Fingers (Baobinga & I.D. RMX) – 777
Plenty stoopid, but a lot of fun :)
10. The Ragga Twins – Ready 4 This (Baobinga RMX) – Passenger
Taking it back a bit. Really happy with how this remix turned out, ragga at dance speed essentially. Well chuffed that Tayo picked it up for his Fabric CD too! (more…)
