A Not So Quiet Riot

Barraged with offers for remix work, LA Riots aren't making much progress on their debut album, but they're definitely getting their loot.

You'd be forgiven for thinking LA Riots exploded out of the ether 13 months ago to dominate their city's scene with melodic but trashy dance-rock remixes of the Scanners, Chromeo, Justice, Kid Sister, and Kylie Minogue. The duo's output was instantly everywhere in 2007, and they appeared to be pulling off an ingenious guerrilla-marketing scheme on clubs and music blogs. Jo'B and Daniel LeDisko, the guilty parties behind said mixes, are starting to resent this assumption; they've been DJing for well over a decade under a number of guises, first bonding years ago in North Carolina over drum 'n' bass (LeDisko was in the Mathematics crew, and Jo'B was in with LTJ Bukem and Breakbeat Science and also is in the downtempo duo Edison Gem).

Words: Christian W. Smith

Tricky Business

Tricky rapped his way into dance music history on Massive Attack's Blue Lines. Since then he's collaborated with pop music's elite, starred in The Sixth Element and has crossed paths with Madonna. After a high profile deal with Hollywood Records ended, his latest album finds him revisiting his Bristol roots and a calmer pace of life.

Words: Darren Ressler
Image: Brooke Nipar

His Cup Runneth Over

Ireland's Calibre—one of the most revered producers in drum 'n' bass—is responsible for producing simply wicked tracks. On his latest album, he's exorcised more than a few demons.

Working in drum 'n' bass, a medium brimming with crafty programmers, Belfast-based Calibre (aka Dominick Martin) is a bonafide producer in the classic sense. He's prolific and fathoms that he's produced over 1,000. The tracks he's released—such as the deep, rolling anthem "It’s Over"—have destroyed dance floors worldwide, while bringing innovation to the often conservative genre he toils within.

Words: Darren Ressler