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Pride of place goes to our universal heroes from South London, 4hero with their 16 track compilation mix. For artist that haven’t released an album since 2007’s Play With The Changes they are never far off the radar as Marc Mac and Dego have mastered many styles as a double act and in other project so thier drum’n’bass/jungle formula is always different, often with a soul/jazz ‘softness’ that sets their productions apart.

CD1 is full of them, starting with their own classic ‘Universal Love’ and ending with A Guy Called Gerald slipping in some Roy Ayers ‘Sunshine’ just to finish things off.

In between there’s the golden vocals of Robert Owens on London Elektricity’s ‘My Dreams’, the Nu:tone remix of ‘Spread Love’, Lemon D’s investigation into ‘Jazz Is’ and pure classic ‘Maximum Style’ by Tom & Jerry (aka 4hero).

And talking jungle “as quick they got behind it, they also tried to turn there back on it as well”, they’re was a hard remix of ‘Maximum Style’ last year by DJ Vapour remix; but back to the CD, the dubstep equivalent in 1996 was ‘Shadow Boxing’ by Hasty Habits. Other old favourites Aquasky turn up as do Rufige Kru and Nookie, both having appeared on the Metalheadz Present The Platinum Series.

It all add up to 100% south of the river King Of quality but for CD2, we go even further south, down to Brazil for DJ Marky’s 19 choice selection mix.

Arguably, a harder d’n’b flavour than the 4hero selection as no sooner that I say that, he confounds it with some genre infusions himself; particularly like the Lynx & Maple ambient-warp-cowbell of ‘Shaku’ and the 60s surf guitar riffed ‘Tonight’ by DJ Marky, Makoto & A-Sides.

Not surprising really as DJ Marky (aka Marky Mark aka Marco Antônio Silva) is known as a drum’n’bass innovator. At the start of the decade, it seemed the only d’n’b worthy listening to was DJ Marky and his then sidekick XRS. And whilst we like a bit of nepotism, two tracks by DJ Marky & S.P.Y, two DJ Marky & S.P.Y remixes and a S.P.Y solo track; just a tad over the top?

Possibly so but to his credit, there’s two Marcus Intalex tracks (‘Temperance’ is a real banger), a bit of Roni Siza/Krust from back in the day (but sounding incredible fresh and vibrant), Andy C (another stormer with Shimon - remember ‘Sexy Beast’?) and my favourite, Q Project’s ‘Move On’.

If you were going to pick two DJ/Producers to do a d’n’b Kings Of set, you’d be hard pushed to better these two (although someone’s telling me Commix would have done a better job - no way, I’d concede different, but not better).

4hero or DJ Marky? Errrrm, that’s a though one. 4hero by a shade as the mixing is slightly crisper for me but even so, only by mere fractions; and where did the manic goodness The Upbeats’ ‘Tor’ come from? It’s like Brian Jackson on speed (there’s one for the teenagers) but these Kiwi’s are coming to Europe in April so lock up ya daughters.

Thinking about it, on the strength of Nu:tone, The Upbeats, Stunna’s ‘Back In Time’ and ‘Gimp Mask’, its DJ Marky’s set that tips it. Anyway, both are superb and on that front, one of the distinctive features of the Kings Of series is the cover artwork and this one comes from Michael Joseph (who’s worked with the Rolling Stones in the past).

You’ll find similar quality covers on previous editions and it’s worth checking out Kings Of Electro (Playgroup & Alter Ego), Kings Of Techno: The History Of Detroit (Carl Craig / Laurent Garnier). Kings Of Diggin’, Kings Of House, Kings Of Jazz (Gilles Peterson / Jazzanova; you get the idea.

If you’ve (briefly) fallen out of love with d’n’b and in need of a reminder how good it can get, Kings Of Drum & Bass is the compilation get. I’ve not heard that BBE have organised any launch parties as yet, but as they’d be as good as the CDs, you’d be daft not to go - I might even wear my gimp mask!

Reviewed: V/A - Kings Of Drum & Bass (Compiled by 4hero & DJ Marky) (BBE) Cat. No.BBE113 (DOUBLE CD/ TRIPLE VINYL) Release date: 16th February 2010
Tracklisting:
CD1
01. 4 Hero - Universal Love (5:33)
02. London Elektricity feat. Robert Owens - My Dreams (6:54)
03. 4 Hero - Better Place (Marcus Intalex & ST Files Remix) (5:20)
04. Calibre - Versions (3:41)
05. Lenny Fontana presents Black Sun - Spread Love (Nu:Tone Remix) (6:02)
06. Lemon D - Jazz Is (5:26)
07. Wings - Wings (6:10)
08. Nasty Habits - Shadow Boxing (5:49)
09. Manix - Inside Outside (3:05)
10. Tom & Jerry - Maximum Style (6:16)
11. Aquasky - Images (4:27)
12. Nookie - Give A Little Love (3:41)
13. Internal Affairs - Find A Way (3:24)
14. Rufige Kru - Terminator II (3:02)
15. A Guy Called Gerald - Sunshine (4:19)

CD2
01. Random Movement - Waterlogged (6:12)
02. Marcus Intalex - Airbourne (5:49)
03. Lynx & Maple - Shaku (4:33)
04. Calibre - Let Me Hold You (2:44)
05. DJ Marky, Makoto & A-Sides - Tonight (2:33)
06. Marcus Intalex - Temperance (5:05)
07. Logistics - West Country / Roni Size & Krust - Hop Scotch (2:11)
08. Scorpio - Li - Li / Shimon & Andy C - Nightflight (4:22)
09. S.P.Y. - Legacy (1:27)
10. Subwave - Stars Get Down (3:38)
11. The Upbeats - Tor (4:00)
12. Nu:Tone - The Boy Who Lost His Smile (2:11)
13. Bachelors Of Science - Song For Lovers (Lynx Remix) (3:16)
14. DJ Marky & S.P.Y. - Riff Raff (2:33)
15. DJ Marky & S.P.Y. - Days Go Slow feat. Miri (3:38)
16. Twisted Individual - Gimp Mask (DJ Marky & S.P.Y. Remix) (2:11)
17. Q Project - Move On (3:16)
18. Rogue Soul - Be With You (DJ Marky & S.P.Y. Remix)(4:00)
19. Stunna - Back In Time (7:21)

Links:
www.4hero.co.uk
www.myspace.com/4hero
www.myspace.com/djmarkyinnerground
www.bbemusic.com
www.myspace.com/bbemusic
www.myspace.com/theupbeatsnz