Operatives :: ScanOne / Milanese / Blackmass Plastics / Cursor Miner / Ekaros
release :: 2006
format :: vinyl & digital

(Click on PLAY button to listen)

A: Skip 3mix

B1: Carnivore (Milanese remix)

B2: Atoms

“Cross-genre sounds of underground London. Electro, nu skool breaks, dubstep, ragga, electronica – Combat’s bass-heavy sound is all and neither of these, but is very recognizable and perfectly suited to dark basements. On this EP, Blackmass remixes Cursor Miner’s remix of ScanOne (!) into Bladerunner-y electro, while the mighty Milanese drag Cursor Miner’s own work into evil dubstep sludge, and Ekaros mines equally dubby tunnels. - Joe Muggs, Mixmag”

Following closely after the onslaught of Dark Horse Dubs and Haiku, 2007 sees the clan springing from the depths of winter with a fresh assault by 5 sonic warriors. As with previous releases, this E.P. unites the work of several adept producers in the same EP, and even within the same tracks. Once again audio weaponry is refined, reinforced and then reinforced again into prized sonic weapons fit for any dubstep / electro warrior’s armoury. As with previous releases, these tracks have been extensively tested out on various soundsystems, and proven to cause sufficient devastation before making it onto vinyl.

A ScanOne > [ Skip – Cursor Miner & Blackmass 3mix ]

The monstrous electro / occupying Side A is a 2-stage remix of “Skip” whichs unites 3 strong producers on the same track. Originally released by ScanOne on COMBAT06 after numerous requests from listeners at parties and on radio, the original squelchy electro 2-step of Skip was dragged into Cursor Miner’s laboratory, and emerged mutated into a sleek metallic VIP mix. Having heard the newer version, Thorn Industries boss Blackmass Plastics promptly dragged it into his south London cavern, injecting it’s veins with surging, angry filth to give a charging, breaks-led bass growler. Dubplates of the twice-reinforced version were cut and have been dropped over numerous soundsystems and radio shows in 2006, out-gunning allies and enemies alike.

B1 Cursor Miner > [ Carnivore – Milanese remix ]

Cursor Miner’s Carnivore surfaced like a kraken-esque electro/grime monster from the depts of London’s undergound scene, described by Smallfish Records as a tune that “almost out-grimes the entire grime scene in one easy move, actually”.

Milanese, one Planet Mu’s deadliest producers, happened to hear Carnivore’s rumbling footsteps and offered to rework the track in his own style. Echoing the snarling precision of his “Extend” album, the Milanese VIP mix develops on the half-step gait of the original, rolling out it’s colossal beats over like a slow, unstoppable marching giant death-machine. Melancholic strings rise and fill out the mix, adding sublime depth to the crushing beats. .

B2 Ekaros > [ Atoms ]

A testament to the speed of the technological age, Hungarian dubstep producer Ekaros was signed to the label immediately after his tracks were heard online, requested then extensively tested out on several soundsystems. Warm, ridiculously powerful blasts of bass and beats carry the track and fill the room out, yet this brutality is tinged with an electro flavour evident in the snares and desolate pads and strings during the breakdown, which call to mind the work of noted electro exponents Bitstream. After outgunning the competition during several sound-tests, there was no question as to whether it should make it onto vinyl. A brilliant start from a talented young producer, watch out for more to come from this man.