XL Recordings is a collaborative endeavour, and many people have contributed to its evolution.
In the song “Out Of Space”, Liam Howlett of The Prodigy provided a blueprint when he sampled Kool Keith of Ultramagnetic MC’s rapping these words: “Pay Close Attention”.
And whilst XL has never had any outside ownership, Gil Scott-Heron advisedme not to even consider XL “independent”; because everything is connected.
This compilation is an attempt to illustrate some of these connections.
Part 1 is the roots of XL; underground music, made for DJ’s. These roots are still growing.
Part 2 features some of the singular talents who have taken the label further than we ever envisioned. There is no unifying genre, and I’ll happily confess to aesthetic opportunism; hopefully the thread of originality is evident though.
We’ve never compromised. The rave music XL first became known for was known as “hardcore”; that spirit continues.
To show our appreciation for your support: thank you DJ’s.
And thank you also to the retailers, writers and of course, ravers.
-- Richard Russell, London, 2014
TRACK LISTING
SL2 - DJs Take Control
The Prodigy - Out Of Space
Awesome 3 - Don’t Go (Kicks Like A Mule Mix)
Liquid - Sweet Harmony
Jonny L – Piper
Roy Davis Jr. Feat. Peven Everett - Gabriel (Live
Garage Version)
Dem 2 - Destiny
Nu-Birth - Anytime
Basement Jaxx - Jump N’ Shout
Dizzee Rascal - I Luv U
Wiley - Igloo
Various Production - Hater
Giggs - Talkin The Hardest
SBTRKT - Wildfire (ft. Little Dragon)
Jamie xx - All Under One Roof Raving
Prodigy - Firestarter
Peaches - Fuck The Pain Away
The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
Devendra Banhart - I Feel Just Like A Child
Badly Drawn Boy- Once Around The Block **
Ratatat - Seventeen Years
M.I.A. - Paper Planes
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Gil Scott-Heron - New York Is Killing Me
Radiohead - Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi
Tyler, The Creator - Yonkers
The Horrors - Sea Within A Sea
Jai Paul - BTSTU (EDIT)
Bobby Womack - Please Forgive My Heart
The xx - Angels
Sampha - Too Much
Vampire Weekend - Step
King Krule - Easy Easy
ADELE - Rolling In The Deep
BONUS DVD TO BE PACKAGED WITH VINYL
FORMAT ONLY:
Prodigy - Firestarter (Director Walter Stern)
Basement Jaxx – Where’s Your Head At (Director Traktor)
The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl (Director Michel Gondry)
Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp (Director Ruben Fleischer)
M.I.A - BirdFlu (Director M.I.A)
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk (Director Hammer and Tongs)
Radiohead - Lotus Flower (Director Garth Jennings)
Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here (Director Jane Pollard)
Tyler, The Creator - Yonkers (Director Tyler, The Creator)
ADELE - Someone Like You (Live From The Brits 2011)