Artist: Tayo
Title: Mob Deep: Volume One
Label: MOB Records
By: Nick Bower | 22 April 2003
Tracklist:

1. Beber & Tamra - Oh Well (Sir Drew Mix)
2. Stanton Warriors - Da Antidote (VIP Mix)
3. Nu Breed - Ionosphere (Care In The Community Mix)
4. Plastic Pervert - Alarm Bells (Original Mix)
5. DJ Technique - My Definition (Lee Coombs Acid House Electro Mix)
6. Albino Allstars - Rumbleweed (Original Mix)
7. Albino Allstars - Rumbleweed (Initial Research Mix)
8. Stanton Warriors - Da Virus (Initial Research Mix)
9. Care In The Community - Damage Control (Original Mix)
10. Moseh Naim - Neem [Shooting Star] (Koma & Bones Mix)
11. Tayo Meets Precision Cuts - Fire Good (Atomic Hooligan Mix)
12. Klaus 'Heavyweight' Hill - G's Groove (Original Mix)
13. Beber & Tamra - You Wonder (Starecase Dub)
14. Nu Breed - Beats & Rhymes (Original Mix)
15. Rennie Pilgrem / Some Place Funky (Ladbroke Groove Mix)
16. Santos - No Ticket To Run (Krafty Kuts Mix)

Tayo "Mob Deep: Volume One"

The 'dreaded one' has certainly been a busy man recently, what with running a successful label, DJ'ing, hosting a popular radio show and creating a couple of high profile compilations. 'Mob Deep Vol. One' is one of these albums, showcasing artists/remixers from his now 4 year old London-based Mob label.

Things kick off on a very electro vibe with Beber & Tamra's 'Oh Well' given the old skool mix treatment by 'Sir Drew' (AKA Andy Meecham from Chicken Lips). This theme continues into the ass shaking VIP mix of Stanton Warrior's 'Da Antidote', one of two of their tracks to feature on the album - both being funked up to the max.

Tayo seamlessly blends from one style of music to another throughout Mob Deep Vol. One without you hardly noticing the transition. From electro to funky nuskool breaks to tribal breaks and back again he takes you on a real musical ride and you get a real feel for what sounds make Tayo tick. The album shows not only the range of diversity and creativity of the acts signed to Mob, but also the skills of Tayo as a DJ.

There are certainly standout tracks on the album, Care In The Community's tough, drum & bass sampled re-working of Nubreed's 'Ionosphere', Tayo's own partnership with Precision Cuts Downtown on 'Fire Good', given a thorough tech-funk driven overhaul by Botchit Breaks boys Atomic Hooligan, still letting the ragga influences shine though. Even though its now over two years old, Rennie Pilgrem's classic 'Ladbroke Groove Mix' of his 'Some Place Funky' still sounds as fresh and fun as ever. This sits nicely at the rear end of Mob Deep Vol. One with Krafty Kuts doing what he does best - producing cheeky, funky, bouncy breaks, this time on Santos' 'No Ticket No Run', a great, upbeat way to conclude the mix.

All in all it can't be denied Mob Deep Vol. hits the spot and satisfies. Its a very enjoyable mix that shows nu skool breakbeat is a fresh, exciting sound which can't be easily pinned down or pigeon-holed as some might think. This album takes influences from the past and pushes the boundaries for the future development of the genre, providing a showcase for this label artist's. Lets hope theres much, much more like this in the pipeline from Tayo and his Mob.