Calibre - Mystic / Feelin

What a great couple of tracks from the Belfast based Drum & Bass legend that is Calibre. It was these two tracks that prompted me to keep a very close eye on any future releases he might put out. And what an impressive back catalogue he's mounted up since this.

First up is the A Side called Mystic. This kicked ass at Swerve in 2000, when it was caned down at the Velvet Rooms. Fabio dropped it the first time I heard it, and all those gathered in the underground haven on Tottenham Court Road subsequently went into uproar! Some rewind business happened on this track back in the day. A slick killer break beat, accompanied by a heavy Jazz note synthesized stab, which becomes interlaced with an airy trumpet like synth line with layered female vocal, all help syncopate this number into an immense flowing dance groove... Great production, along with great layering, keep it building up and breaking down in a frenetic, energy driven Jazz work out. What an awesome number... And bearing in mind this is the sound of Calibre when he was starting out, it's no wonder that Fabio took him under his wing and played this out heavily back then.

This release is backed with a track entitled Feelin. While it's still a good B Side, it just isn't nearly as captivating as Mystic is. Still slick in its own way, it is a bit more of a Jazz stepper, in the way Peshay's Miles From Home on MoWax is. Great production with a lovely sax rift reminiscent of DJ Pulse's Destiny on All Good Vinyl, layered with strings and a somewhat unusual yet effective vocal, really put it up there near the top (in my humble opinion).

Easily a classic from Fabio's Creative Source imprint! 5 out of 5...

Thanks to those who pointed out he was from Belfast.