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Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>

Chase & Status’ reputation as producers extraordinaire seems to be firmly establishing itself thanks to heavy the rotation of their new track ‘End Credits’ on Radio One. Not that the duo, known to their mothers as Saul Milton and Will Kennard respectively, need the airplay, their name has long been given resonance in the murky D’n’B underworld having yielded dual dance chart number ones, but it seems to show a leaning towards a mainstream mentality on behalf of the boys.

Relatively new to the Drum & Bass scene, Chase & Status quickly built up a firm fan base amongst those seeking a somewhat less archetypal D’n’B aesthetic. Whereas the majority of the harder D’n’B scene has often gravitated towards the classic pulse, limiting their sonic range to literally little more than drum and bass for instrumentation, C&S seem to have instituted themselves less in D’n’B aural sensibilities, but in the ideal of interweaving something all the more pleasant with the underlying  D’n’B discourse.

What with the recent (or so it seems) mainstream crossover of acts like

Pendulum, & Keith Flint et al. undoubtedly taking influence from the underground with their last release, it seems perfectly understandable why Chase & Status are currently enjoying such a degree of mainstream popularity. And, whereas Pendulum’s releases soon became indistinct from one another, and Prodigy struggling, no matter how hard they try, to reach the halcyon heights of Fat of the Land, Chase & Status’ ability to meander from style to style while retaining characteristics for which they’re held in such high regard.

For their latest release, C&S have enlisted the vocal help of London neo-balladeer, Plan B. Know for his close to the knuckle subject matter, favourite subjects include murder, rape & drug use, Plan B’s contribution is an extremely subtle, nuanced vocal track against which C&S solid D’n’B beats are given extra fervour. Whilst the lyrical subject matter is far less guttural than previous Plan B material, it still gives insight into something far darker than the lyrics themselves. It alludes to the context surrounding our protagonist’s untimely death but still paints a rather grim, foreboding portrait of the London underworld.

Such is the growing commercial viability of Chase & Status that this particular release has been used as the main soundtrack sound-bite from Michael Caine’s latest feature, Harry Brown.

Not bad for a duo whose hard copy output is limited to a single long player.