v classics, vol.1: 10 drum & bass tracks

roni size didn't take jungle global the way he was supposed to (once again, club culture's unstoppable march halted at the u.s. border), but he certainly gave the under-sung bristol scene a major boost. though there are other branches of that scene--the versatility and technical itch camps--most of it has coalesced around the related v record and full cycle labels. v classic is the first v compilation, and if it isn't as heady as full cycle's music box collection, it is still an announcement of a major alternative to london's dominance. size kicks off with the much-played "it's jazzy" (which, along with "it's a jazz thing," would lead many observers to assume he's a jazzhead, when in fact he's more a james brown fan), followed by goldie showing some respect by eerily remixing size's "the calling." the highlight, though, is dj krust's "maintain," one of the few recent jungle tracks to put a female vocal front and center. krust has been threatening to drop a monstrous debut album since 1997, and until it actually happens, all most of us have to go on are the dribs and drabs of brilliance doled out on 12-inch singles and the occasional compilation such as this. --jeff salamon SKU:ADIB000003SFM

v classics, vol.1: 10 drum & bass tracks