St. Albans-based duo Source Direct are renowned for the ambient-leaning progressive drum'n'bass they've released on the Metalheadz, Basement, Certificate 18, and Street Beats labels, as well as on their own self-titled imprint. Often compared with such rolling, relaxed junglists as LTJ Bukem, Peshay, and Goldie, Source Direct actually figure closer to the taut, brooding complexity of Photek and edgier PFM, wrapping sweeping minor-key melodies around sharp, splintered breaks and deep basslines far more oppositional than the sweet retreat of much of the LGR and Metalheadz stables. Claiming close affinity with '70s soul, jazz, and funk groups such as Grover Washington, Bob James, and Average White Band, SD's Jim Baker and Phil Aslett began making music together when they were just 14. Renting out midnight studio time at Hackney's Panic Studio, they assembled demo cassettes of (still unreleased) material while setting their DJ skills in order and organizing and hosting underground (usually illegal) hardcore parties. They soon pieced their own studio together in their St. Albans home (near Ipswich, home to Rupert "Photek" Parkes), and began releasing a string of highly acclaimed 12-inches by the ages of 17. The pair record under a variety of pseudonyms for various labels, including Intensity (Basement), Sounds of Life (Certificate 18), Oblivion (Street Beats), but have released most of their material as Source Direct (primarily on Odyssey, Metalheadz, Looking Good, and their own label). Source Direct tracks have been featured on Looking Good and Metalheadz label compilations, and the pair have completed remixes for the likes of the Shamen, Code of Practice, and Medicine Man. Their Exorcise the Demons album appeared in 1999. By the end of the year, Aslett had left the fold, though Baker continued alone as Source Direct. ~ Sean Cooper, All Music Guide
Source Direct is a drum and bass producer team from St Albans in the United Kingdom, initially consisting of Phil Aslett and Jim Baker. They are often compared[who?] with ambient drum and bass artists such as LTJ Bukem and other Good Looking Records producers, but their work displays a much more percussive assault than the laid-back jungle artists.[citation needed]
The duo produced singles for a variety of different labels: Metalheadz, Basement, Certificate 18, Odysee, Street Beats, Good Looking Records, and their own Source Direct label. They also released singles under other names, such as Intensity, Sounds of Life, and Oblivion. Aslett had left the team by the end of 1999, but Baker still records under the Source Direct name.
"The Crane/Artificial Barriers" (1996, Source Direct)
"Call & Response/Computer State" (1997, Virgin)
"Capital D/Enemy Lines" (1997, Virgin)
"Two Masks/Black Domina" (1997, Virgin)
"Concealed Identity" (1998, Virgin)
"Mind Weaver" (1998, Virgin)
"Technical Warfare" (1998, Virgin)
"Snowblind/The Place" (2001, Demonic)
"Sub One/Escape From Cairo" (2001, Demonic)
"Yo Bitch!/Pimp Star" (2001, Demonic)
Source Direct in other media
The track, "Call & Response", appeared in a scene from the 1998 film "Blade" in which the track is being listened to, on headphones, by the villain, Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff), whilst he searches a library's archives. However, the song did not appear on the film's soundtrack.
Their track "2097" was created especially for use in the 1995 Playstation game Wipeout 2097.
