The thing that I always admired about Weatherall was his work ethic. He enjoyed the process of making and he never seemed to take a break. Always at something, refusing to be pigeonholed. Realising the need to keep moving and mutating in order to keep himself creative and interested.

5 perhaps less well known below from his extensive and formidable back catalogue.

I’ve loved Mark Broom since I discovered him sometime in the nineties, mainly via his amazing Pure Plastic label. I’ve caught him DJing a few times and had the chance to play alongside him and he is an extremely down to earth individual (proving not all DJs are self obsessed arseholes). I love the fact he’s still as relevant, interesting with an relentless amount of gigs, remixes and output as ever. These kind of consistent types are generally the people who remain true to their original mission.

Five Broom’s from across the boards below…

James Pants is a great producer that can easily switch many styles – taking inspiration and influence from his deep and weird record collection. He does it all with a bit of laid back charm, which I think is lacking in a lot of today’s music. For me he has slightly gone under the radar over the years, even though he is on Stones Throw. I keep expecting him to have a big hit one day, but you get the feeling he is happy just doing his own thing, making music that he wants to on his own terms. Definitely worth digging round his back catalogue.

Matthew Herbert is a producer who truly does his own thing. His take on house and modern electronics always sound like no one else, yet regardless of genre always sound like him.

A man with his own stylings, here are five I always return to.

The Idjuts always do their own thing. I always feel they don’t get as much credit as they should. If you’ve ever heard their music out on a big system then you will know what I’m on about.

5 drummy dubby disco treats from their very consistent edit label below.

One producer that has caught our ears repeatedly over recent years is Joe. His music really packs a punch and has stacks of personality, he sounds like no other with each record a different take on the last.

Five favs below, we wish there were more like Joe!

It was never gonna be a post about anyone else today. So here are five gems released by and given to me by the late, great Lyndon Stephens. I love them and shall adore just that wee bit more now.

From folk to garage via electronic bliss and hazy house, dig in…

Dunno when Mr Beltram had time to sleep in the early 90s as he seemed to be making a lot of music. Most of it excellent. For my ears I prefer some of his less banging warehouse techno output that perhaps he is best known for. These records definitely still ‘bang’ though. Always stuff to uncover in his deep back catalogue. Quite the dude.

One thing Mr Black and I both agree on is just how great a label Deewee is. A modern imprint of quality electronics packed with personality in the sea of forgetable coffee table synth music that was 2019 and for that reason it’s my label of the year!

Some rave straight outta Birmingham. Network Records, now getting the re-issue treatment I saw recently, although I think their releases are easy to pick up for cheap. That being said sometimes hard to get a nice clean copy as these tunes were loved and battered by DJ’s up and down the country, from house parties to massive raves. My favourite thing I read about this label is that they hired a guy called Andy Stanley known as DJ Stan The Devil Tune Man, who (amongst other roles for the label) did van sales. Love it!