2004 is destined to be another massive year for drum&bass’ most prominent collective, Bad Company UK. Aside from having several huge singles scheduled for release on some of the mightiest labels in existence, DOA can exclusively reveal that the collective are putting the finishing touches on what will be their fifth artist album ‘Bad Taste’. DOA can also announce the planned launch of yet another but altogether different label from the collective, BC Presents...

Although Bad Company UK should need no introduction, for the sorry few that have managed to miss the whole thing, here’s a summary of their unique success story. The story really began in 1999 when Fresh, Vegas, Maldini and D-Bridge decided to join forces and become the soon to be legendary urban underground dance music collective, Bad Company UK. Their first release ‘The Nine’, now a highly collectable 12”, went straight to number 1 in the BBC Radio 1 drum&bass chart and had to be re-pressed four times to meet demand. ‘The Nine’ held its position in the chart for 3 weeks and is still faithfully being played by top DJ’s five years on. In 2002 ‘The Nine’ was voted for by 150,000 people on the Drum and Bass Arena web site as the number 1 drum&bass tune of all time. It is also important to note that Bad Company UK holds the number 3 position in the same chart for the brilliant ‘Planet Dust’ and as if that wasn’t enough the Bad Company UK boys themselves were also voted number 1 producers! Their first award winning album, ‘Inside the Machine’ (Knowledge Magazine Album of the Year 2000) met critical acclaim when it was released in 2000. Their second long player ‘Digital Nation’ was met with similar acclaim and was soon followed by the immense ‘Book of the Bad’ series, which proved that there was no stopping their uncompromising talents. If it hadn’t been done already, Bad Company UK’s most recent album ‘Shot Down On Safari’ cemented their well-deserved place at the top of drum&bass’ hierarchy.

After an abundance of grimy underground hits on BC Recordings, several of which unexpectedly graced the top 50 of the UK national chart, in 2003 Bad Company UK began the year by producing their first mainstream targeted project; featuring a battering of bashment reggae style vocals, ‘Mo-Fire’ smashed its way to number 21 in the UK national chart. Shortly after, this was followed by D-Kay, Epsilon and Stamina’s ‘Barcelona’ rocketing to Number 14 in the mainstream national chart, and remaining in the Top 20 for 4 weeks. A track that Bad Company UK had executively produced and signed to their newly formed BC Authorised label; a label which they had purposefully created as an outlet for the more viable sounds of drum&bass, with the emphasis on precise yet experimental vocals.

After proving to both themselves and their critics that they could exist proudly amongst the mainstream limelight, the Princes of darkness have been quick to return to their treasured underground. The music that Bad Company UK have both created and released since their return has been deeper, darker and deadlier than ever. It seems that the mainstream and everything it represents only fuels Bad Company UK’s true creativity. The first harvest, post ‘Mo-Fire’ and ‘Barcelona’, yielded the likes of the ‘Bullet Time EP’; released on their very own BC Recordings it was their final release of 2003 and their most recent release to date. After an epic intro ‘Bullet Time’ featured evil punctuating analogue bass twists that left evil forebodings in its trail of dance floors worldwide. D Bridge explains, ‘I’m not sure what people were expecting from us, we just went into the studio, got on a vibe, and worked with the sounds we had, in this case it was a sample that had inspired us.’ Vegas ads, ‘with that one we just went in the studio and rolled it out.’

Other expected unreleased titles include ‘True Romance’ and ‘Bellini’ both of which are set for release on the mighty Metalheadz over the next couple of months, ‘Antrim’ - a collaboration with the new MC turned producer Verse, features on the ‘School of Hard Knocks LP’ out soon on the award winning Renegade Hardware, and the hilariously titled ‘Clown Killer’ is set to appear on Dylan’s Technical Freaks album. D Bridge explains, ‘believe it or not that one was inspired by’ Vegas chuckles, ‘clownstep’ he continues, ‘we just wanted to do a tune that represented the complete opposite of all that clownstep that was about, as a result ‘Clown Killer’ is a dirty dirty tune.’ On hearing the above tracks, they were not darker but deeper, that’s what gives BC’s tunes their longer shelf life.

When questioned about other unreleased tracks DOA got told, ‘we’ve got an album due out later this year, and we’ve got to hold back on some good tracks for that.’ But we all know they’ve still got to test them out, so if you’re lucky you might catch them playing them out.’ The guys were happy enough to give DOA an outline of the album’s general undertaking and even its title. Maldini informs us, ‘we’re not 100% yet but it’s most likely going to be called Bad Taste.’ Vegas explains, ‘Like all of our previous albums, it shows where we’re at right now… like a timeframe.’ Although they guarantee the album will be out before the year is out, DOA is also informed, ‘we’re not a factory line, we’re in no rush, but at the same time it’s something we’re actively doing.’ Ok then. ‘There’s loads of tracks that we’ve done for it that we’re really happy with, but we’ve just got to test them out a bit, and make sure that we don’t want to come with anything more before we decide to put it out.’ Fair enough. After a slight uncomfortable pause and a deep breath, ‘any sign of Fresh on the album.’ To which in succession I was categorically told, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ Vegas gives the details. ‘There’s a couple of bits from Fresh on there, ‘War Games’ is one of them and then there’s another something that just goes off ridiculous whenever I play it.’

It was an altogether different project that the guys are currently working on that caught DOA totally off guard. D-Bridge announces, ‘It’s called ‘Sex with Strangers’ it’s a project built around a great vocal’ OK ‘We think it’s going to be an EP on BC Authorised.’ DOA can report that the original mix is a house mix from 100hz, who were their debut artists with a track called ‘Waterfalls’ on BC Halo last year. For those of you that don’t know what BC Halo is it’s another label from BC, which ‘pursues and promotes the emotive shades of techno and house.’ Then there’s a mix from BC themselves, plus a mix from Spacek and a breakbeat mix is still in the production stage. D Bridge reckons, ‘Barcelona did really well, it did great things for BC Authorised, and as this project is the subsequent release on that label we’re hoping that there will be a platform already there.’ DOA didn’t get to hear the track, though all of them appeared to be convinced that the track had what it takes to make it in the mainstream.

BC have been quick to put their experience and wisdom to good use; their contribution to bringing through virtually unknown talented artists is definitely noteworthy. Like many prevalent producers and DJs, they are continually given and the label regularly sent an abundance of unsigned tracks by eager wannabes from around the world. It’s for this reason that the collective simultaneously launched Square One and BC Halo recordings. Both labels have aimed to provide platforms for music that is too good to be ignored, music that they think should in fact be brought to the masses. Square One exposes the talent found within the world of unsigned drum&bass, whilst BC Halo, as previously mentioned, pursues the best of the more rhythmically challenging and emotive shades of techno and house. Vegas spells it out, ‘If we get sent good tunes from people who are out there struggling, we’ll put them out.’ To this date both labels have exceeded any expectations, and as promised their success has come from bringing unknown talent to the attention of the relevant dance floor, scene, industry and its hierarchy.

To add to their soon to be branded corporation, the collective have recently announced the launch of yet another but altogether different label, the well named BC Presents. A label conceived by Bad Company UK to showcase music by established artists from the drum&bass circuit. The label, that has announced release schedules which include the likes of Matrix, Sonic and C4C to name a few, promises to be a welcome addition to the creative outlets that Bad Company UK has already put into action. D Bridge explains, ‘we want to put out other established artists’ tunes that we’re really feeling, but BC is for BC so we needed another label.’ Vegas ads, ‘tunes like the ones we’ve got coming make you feel proud to put them out.’ Other unconfirmed artists that have shown interest in appearing on BC’s most recent label venture include New Zealand’s Concord Dawn, Austria’s DKay and America’s Hive. Maldini explains, ‘we’re not just going after one specific style either, what attracted us to these artists is that they come with their own style.’ It’s also important to note that with all of these projects BC aren’t just putting their name to them, yes they’ve got the renowned Katie BC managing things, but they assure me, ‘we make a point of being involved in all of it all the way.’

There was one final item that had to be discussed, Exit Recordings. We all know about the project but what was that name all about D Bridge? ‘In hindsight I think that I would have called it something different, you journalists love looking into things don’t you!’ So? ‘Basically, it’s an idea I’ve had for a long time ever since I first visited Japan in 2000, for some reason exit signs have always caught my eye, and the plan was to have pictures of a different exit sign as the artwork for each release. That’s all.’ Hmmm.

As well as being globally recognised as a-list producers and label managers, Bad Company UK’s members are undoubtedly some of the busiest DJ’s on the circuit, constantly touring the globe especially the US, and appearing at all the major festivals on a regular basis. If you like hearing BC in the mix make sure you pick up their mix CD which you’ll find accompanying the new album ‘School of Hard Knocks’ from the TOV camp.

Bad Company UK’s unique story can only be described as one of unprecedented success, year after year their tunes have been enjoyed and applauded by both fans and critics alike. It’s also an outstanding fact that every tune that Bad Company UK have ever released on BC Recordings has gone straight to No.1 in the BBC’s drum&bass chart. You only have to go to www.dogsonacid.com in order to witness the effects of the shock waves that Bad Company UK’s music blatantly started. Vegas confirms, ‘it’s like our home, it’s wicked, we’re on it all the time.’ Originating predominantly as a message board and chat room for their fans, the site has since developed at a drastic rate in an organic like process to become the unofficial core and resource centre of drum&bass music on the Internet, whilst also achieving the status of being the biggest and busiest online dance music forum in the world!

Bad Company – Long may they prevail!

Words By: JHO