After a weekend of the world apparently coming to an end due to some snow, BUG is back with some tasty treats for you. Coming up this week we have an interview with D&B heroes The Insiders as well as loads of downloads and more. So keep it locked to BUG.




First up make sure you keep an eye on On A Hype where they'll be keeping everybody up to date with all the latest UKHD mixes from their Passion FM radio show. The blog continues to impress and is a vital destination if you're looking for local news on garage, grime, funky and more.




There's a great interview with Rob Smith over at Highrise Clothing's blog. Chris Highrise is always raising the levels and bringing some quality content to his blog so keep checking back there. Its a fascinating in-depth read with one of the true legends of the Bristol music community, so get yourself over there to take a look.



Another BUG favourite in Peverelist has contributed a candid interview via Richard Carnage to Resident Advisor, a truly monumental interview in our opinion which covers some interesting ground. Good news also reaches us that Orchestral Lab by Guido will make it's release on Punch Drunk soon, which is cause for celebration if ever we heard it.




Last week we brought you the Bristol: Rise Up special from Mary Anne Hobbes show, and this week we had to include her first podcast for XLR8R. Normally we wouldn't feature mixes from artists outside of Bristol (kind of defeats the point of the blog otherwise!) - but this mix features seven Bristol-based artists so it seems churlish to not put it up!

Tracklisting:

01 Durrty Goodz vs Taz Buckfaster - "Destruction" (Dubplate)
02 Joker & Ginz - "Purple City" (Dubplate)
03 Martyn - "Elden St" (3024)
04 LD and Benga - "Yes Yes" (Dubplate)
05 Reso - "Octacon" (Dubplate)
06 Kryptic Minds & Leon Switch - "Six Degrees" (Swamp81)
07 2000F and JKamata - "You Don"t Know What Love Is" (Hyperdub)
08 DJ Pinch - "Teleport" (Planet Mu)
09 Kode 9 & LD - "2 Bad" (Dubplate)
10 Zed Bias feat. Ghost 1 & Jay Electronica - "The Cauldron" (Sidestepper)
11 Boxcutter - "Sidetrak" from the upcoming "Arecibo Message" (Planet Mu)
12 Pangaea - "Memories" (Dubplate)
13 Joker - "Digidesign" (Hyperdub)
14 RSD - "Forward Youth" (Tectonic)
15 Goth Trad - "Cut End" (Deep Medi)
16 Gatekeeper feat. Grilza & Dread MC - "Ignite" (Dubplate)

DOWNLOAD : Mary Anne Hobbes XLR8R Podcast



Everybody's favourite Papa HENCH aka Jakes has promised a mix a month this year, and here's the first from January. Every single tune is disgusting as you'd expect from the man like Jakes, so get on the download!

Tracklisting:

1. REMEDY - DUB
2. MR DINGALING feat BEEZY (JAKES RMX) - DUB
3. MUTHAF**KA / GOLDIELOCKS (JAKES RMX) - DUB
4. WARFACE - DUB
5. FEEL - DUB
6. 3K LANE VIP - DUB
7. CUSTARD CREAM - DUB
8. ROC THA BELLZ VIP - DUB

DOWNLOAD : Jakes - January Mix



Just a little heads up too: BUG will be going live this year all over Bristol, showcasing the best local artists in all manner of environments. For our first event, we'll be joining up with the legendary Empathy to provide you with some fantastic music at the newly launched Basement 45 (formerly The Mandrake) on Fri 13th March.

Unlucky for some maybe, but not anybody who ventures down to check out our room featuring long-time BUG favourite and GlitchNight mainstay Polestar alongside [SIC], The Kelly Twins, Andy Payback Hi-Fi and Dave Kirik. Something for everybody and all for a fiver in advance.


Back to present times and of course this weekend it's Valentines, so prepare to empty them wallets in the dim hope of a bunk up at the following events:



SeasonFive are really going from strength to strength at the moment and this event looks to be another step in the right direction with a rock solid line-up for the discerning amongst you.




If you fancy something a little more rough and tough then head down to Clockwork for Beat Bristol, with a seriously bass-heavy roster of big names.



If you prefer to party on Friday 13th instead (two this year - yikes!) then head down to The Croft for Liquid Lounge's 3rd Birthday, and with 3 amazing local bands and more DJs beside, this is definitely 100% BUG approved.

BEST LABEL 2008 - PUNCH DRUNK

It’s been a formidable year for Peverelist’s label, and one that has seen it cement its reputation as a label truly at the forefront of bold sonic endeavour. With every release comes a different sound or style, and yet all of them are strangely cohesive when considering the imprint’s progressive attitude toward sound. A lot of Peverelist’s own musical identity is understandably inherent within the label’s programming, but there’s no clear-cut definition to what the label will release next, perhaps the hallmark of a truly great imprint.

Whether it’s the steely echoes and shuddering synths of Peverelist’s Clunk Click Every Trip, the staccato onslaught of Gemmy’s Bass Transmitter, the raw soundsystem styles of RSD’s Jah Way or the half-whispered sinister intentions of Pinch’s Dr.Carlson, the broad base of textures available on Punch Drunk has made it a buy on sight record label – without a single dip in quality for well over two years now, we look forward to what jewels they will bring to the surface in 2009.


TECTONIC

After the release of Underwater Dancehall at the tail end of 2007, Pinch’s label continued to forge an unswerving path through the increasing mediocrity becoming apparent in Dubstep. The shimmering, hypnotic melody of Peverelist’s Infinity Is Now and the vital release of 2562’s album Aerial were both incredible highlights in a year that also saw the label give us the striding crunch of Skream’s Hedd Banger as well as the urgent skittering bleeps of Pinch’s Joyride. Tectonic continues to offer up the best examples of the genre and long may it continue.


SOUL MOTIVE

Soul Motive tore onto the scene this year and set a fire directly underneath it. A collaborative effort between local DJ/Producers Forsaken and Kymatik alongside the evil genius Adam Telford, it was a truly inspired addition to an ever-growing local community of labels. Already three releases deep, the label has excelled in pushing the boundaries of music with some jaw-dropping sonic adventures committed to vinyl. The debut double A-side pitched the grandiose smackdown of Joker’s Snake Eater against the smooth rolling vibes of TRG’s Move Dis, and whilst that was still getting incredible hype Forsaken himself came correct with his collaborations with Mr Jo and Ben Blackmore in Last Saloon Swagger and Into The Sunset. Both of these encapsulated the ethos of the label with organic, emotive music that was breathtakingly original. The third split release dropped recently and again switched up expectations with the spiralling majesty of Coleco’s Campfire Funk and the ethereal beauty of Sharmaji’s Break Your Heart. Another must have label, and one that is set to take it to the next level in 2009.


IMMERSE

It feels like Immerse was slightly slept on this year, which is odd given the perennial quality of its output. Immerse is one of BUG’s favourite labels and never disappoints in providing listeners with some incredible music. The sun-dappled groove of Kuma’s Dawn Stepped Outside was beautiful, as was the Kontext double, especially the microfunk of Plumes or the sublime Falling To Weightlessness. Forsaken’s sweetboy stylings on Hypnotised were another highlight, alongside two amazing remixes by Horsepower and Ramadanman of Kuma and Kontext respectively. Immerse for BUG is all about the genuine perfection of song craft rather than any specific genre of music; all the artists featured so far have broken the mould with some awe-inspiring sounds.


URBAN SCRUMPING

Phaeleh’s label is pushing whole new spectrums of sound against the grain of the consensus. This year saw it bloom from a focal point for the producer’s own work to become home for some of the true mavericks of the local scene and beyond. From the soaring drumfunk of Gyu’s Unknowable to the imperial death march of Darkham’s The Last Ritual, Urban Scrumping proved quickly this was no label for a set sound. With the glacial majesty of Sclist’s Darkroom EP due to drop in early January, the scene is set for a fantastic 2009 for this fledgling imprint.