5 out of 5

Label: WeMe Records

Produced by: Ed DMX

Ed Upton – DMX Krew / Ed DMX / Bass Potato / Computor Rockers / approximately 900 other pseudonyms – is a frighteningly prolific creator in the electro space, not only because of how much output he generates, but also because of how much of that feels like quality material. And, fair, he’s playing in a space that’s maybe less requiring of the perceived density of skittery jittery IDM stuff, a la latter-era Aphex, but it’s still a skill to craft so much material that can be said to be pretty unique, one track to the next, and identifiable to Ed, and geared towards the various genres (including skittery stuff on occasion!) at which Upton pokes. And I accept that a lot of electro artists have stashes of tracks we don’t hear, or that we do, released through channels like Soundcloud, but still: running a label, creating physical items of so much of his stuff, and juggling these various identities (and spaces on other well-known labels beyond his own…!) – Ed is a dynamo.

So with 900+ pseudonyms, releasing 900+ singles or EPs or albums every 900 seconds or so, it can cost a pretty penny to collect Ed’s stuff, or even get the chance to listen to a good chunk of it, since it’s not all available digitally, I don’t think. Thus, anything that makes it easier to get to stuff – either collecting singles I’ve heard, or things I haven’t – I’m all for. A compilation that does that, like this one, is already aces in my book.

That said, given that this is a Breakin’ Records – Ed’s label – comp, I was a bit hesitant. That imprint tends to lean heavy into club vibes (either heavy bass sweatin’ workouts or 80s vocal house trax, or both), and I tend to have a threshold with that stuff. But fear not: with a track selection from WeMe mastermind Fred, and (at least according to the WeMe website) remastering by Ed, this set is sequenced and leveled to perfection, selecting from a few Ed pesudonyms across several years of Breakin’, and delivering surely label-appropriate flexes, but also a great range within that that keeps the set fun and engaging.

The A-side is heavy on what I would expect, dialed in to some best-of examples: goofy vocals, wild beats, funky melodies. This is where we get the selection of our three pseudonyms for this set: DMX Krew (the selections of which sound like early Rephlex-era house or more sober acid jams); the good-times Bass Potato; and the electro-funk of Computor Rockers. This club-ready sound initially carries over to the B-side, but it’s kind of done just to summarize: Back To the Bass (in vocals and nusic) explains how this style is “easy,” but also makes it clear that you’ve gotta have the knowledge and skills to put that together. ….Which the rest of the comp demonstrates, by shifting the conversation, side to side, to slightly moodier styles, leading us through some truly fantastic tracks to the more comparatively subtle acid of side D.

I was already impressed with Ed, as should be obvious. But this set just made it all the more true, which unfortunately means my hunt for all them singles and albums continues.

As a last note, while I do think all the material on here has previously been released, I couldn’t source (through Discogs) the “Remix” of Emerging Technology, so that’s potentially a new take.