Artist: Heretic
Title: 1.0
Label: Sabotage Systems
By: Simon Jones | 20 May 2005
Tracklist:

1. EC1M - EC1M
2. Joakim - Come Into My Kitchen
3. Alex Smoke - Dont See The Point
4. Bill Payer & Fat Hippy - Soul Trader (Bill Payer 3am Dub)
5. St Plomb - Bat In My Shoe
6. Paolo Mojo - Crack House
7. Fries & Bridges - Pop Locking
8. Joe Montana - Boys (Heretic Mix)
9. Begginerz - Rhythm Foundation (Buick Project Mix)
10. The Glass - Dont Bother Me (20/20 Vision Mix)
11. DJ Ali - Change
12. Voltique - Smell Of Sweat
13. Cass & Slide - The Bunny
14. Induceve - Ooo Yessir
15. Lee Burridge & Andy Page - Why Are The Pretty Ones Always Insane?
16. Groovy - Groovy
17. Dibaba - Kill Rock N Roll (Let It Bleed)

Heretic "1.0"

Several years ago, if you were to be told that Cass Cutbush and Paolo Mojo were to compile and mix a compilation, then most people would probably be a bit bewildered by the fact that two seemingly polar opposite DJs could gel and work cohesively to produce such a project. Of course, many people think the world is really just black or white, when in fact my dear friends, there are many shades of grey. The Heretic project is just that, an exploration of those shades through a journey of creative expression and artistic influence. Or to sum it up, an album simply called '1.0'.

Drawing from a wide and extensive repertoire of sounds, style and influences, the dastardly duo set up the mood nicely with a selection of prime cuts from EC1M and Alex Smoke to name but few, launching us into the random shenanigans proper. From here on in, the blank canvas is laid down and Cass and Mojo set to work like a pair of dualling Picassos. Mojo's exclusive inclusion 'Crack House' sits amongst tracks from Bill Payer & Fat Hippy and Joe Montana, with the boys themselves lending the rerub to the latter. All this, and and so far we've covered everything from reggae to house and electro, with the occasional wobbly bassline thrown in for good measure.

The outstanding Buick Project mix of 'Rhythm Foundation' by The Beginnerz slows the mood of the mix down, and is quickly followed by 'Don't Bother Me' by The Glass, a stunning track that is one of my personal favourites of the last few months, and featured here it's one of the standout tracks of the compilation, as 20/20 Vision dish up another dynamic and energetic remix. The second half of the mix is diversifies further, digging up a series of gems from Voltique, with an exclusive cass & Slide track entitled 'The Bunny' breaking things up with it's cinematic acappella, without taking the attention away from the hypnotic groove that is very much a predominant feature throughout '1.0'.

With some cool jazzy elements sprinkled in courtesy of Induceve, an appearance of the much sought after and highly anticipated collaboration 'Why Are The Pretty Ones Always Insane' by Lee Burridge and Andy Page and a subliminal closing opus from Dibaba, the Heretic boys have created an album that not only dodges the usual pigeonholes that befall so many other compilations, but demolishes any boundaries that remained with the kitchen sink of sounds they have so duly included, and in the process of doing so have created one of the finest compilations of the year thus far, a breath of fresh air against the glut of regressive albums that seem to stay the same from year to year.