Mumdance (Jack Adams) became one of the most notable DJs and producers of the early-2010s U.K. grime scene, thanks to his adventurous mixes and collaborations with producers Logos and Pinch. Fabriclive 80, his contribution to Fabric's long-running mix CD series, is a sprawling, boundary-pushing mix that showcases his affinity for blown-out bass and jagged beats of all stripes. The mix starts out with some noisy drone from the likes of Shapednoise and Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, then segues into some truly abstract, broken textures from Fis and Sculpture. Before long, we're hearing acid house bleeps and faded Hoover synths, before the unleashing of heavy bass killers by the likes of Untold and Acre, as well as Logos, Pinch, and Mumdance himself. The mix momentarily steps back into the outer edges for more unsettling drone from Helm and Wanda Group, as well as the weightless ambient grime of Strict Face. The beats return harder than ever, culminating in previously unreleased VIP mixes of "1 Sec" and "Take Time," Mumdance's massive grime anthems featuring MC Novelist, although the version of "Take Time" replaces Novelist with gruff ragga toasting from Riko Dan. The mix takes a surprising turn in its final quarter hour, reaching back to Mumdance's rave scene roots for a handful of early-'90s breakbeat hardcore classics from artists like Jimmy J & Cru-L-T and Ramos & Supreme, capturing the days just before the scene was mutating into happy hardcore, but still had a dark, paranoid edge to it. The entire mix is a thrilling exploration of the fringes of bass music culture.
© Paul Simpson /TiVo