DJ’s
Headliner: X-Press 2
X-Press 2 first burst onto the international club scene in 1993 with the
demented sirens, typewriter-noise percussion and dance floor pyrotechnics of 'Muzik
Express'.
The three DJs, Ashley Beedle, Rocky and Diesel all from unfashionable suburbs of London, had each played leading roles in the capitals cooler, more influential club scenes. Their first studio session left them cold they'd intended to sample an old Cloud One track but that typewriter percussion noise was all that survived. Everyone else disagreed. 'Muzik X-Press' was an instant worldwide club hit.
DJs as influential as Pete Tong and New York's Junior Vasquez then in his Sound Factory prime loved it. Clubbers around the world declared it an instant anthem. Its follow up, the juddering, funky 'London X-Press' with its exhortation to "raise your hands!" was just as monstrously successful, it was the daft dancefloor smash, 'Say What', that came next. When their records began to get, as Ashley puts it, "more oblique", the three were content to put X-Press 2 aside and move onto other projects, and the three moved effortlessly into jazzier, funkier, more downbeat arenas with their internationally respected Ballistic Brothers team-up.
In April of 2000 X-Press 2 found themselves back together on the road and in the studio. In 2001 they released the mighty 'AC/DC'. The boys were back in town. Into 2002 the singles 'Muzikizum' and 'Lazy' (more on that later) followed before the lads dropped their debut album also titled 'Muzikizum', the album was critically acclaimed and charted at number 15 in the national charts. A massive success.
'Lazy' was a track that perfectly summed up the mood of the nation. Released in April 2002 and charting at number 2 in the national. It became the biggest airplay track of the year and won them the converted Ivor Novello award. "I had contacted Beedle and co some five years ago after hearing Ballistic Brothers, which I loved," says Byrne, who offered them a slot on his European tour, thinking they were a live band. He's glad the collaboration finally happened. "I loved the contradiction of a pumping dance track that is called 'Lazy'".
With their dazzling six deck DJ performances that used effects-ridden mic performances from Ashley, CD-players and basic samplers to send crowds wild. "We like a bit of a challenge and it certainly creates something of a potent atmosphere", says Rocky. "Its like a jam, really, its not rehearsed, were inspired continually by the shenanigans on the dancefloor". Whoever's playing the tune coming out the speakers, the other two can cut in effects, beats, acappellas. It becomes like a wall of sound."
The new X-Press 2 album, "Makeshift Feelgood", is out now.
