
Subhead was a big big influence on my early work - Ctrl Alt Delete definitely has a bit of Subheads 11 and 18 in there. I first discovered them in 1996, and straight away they sounded original and unique, like the real embodiment the much touted techno ethic of sounding like “nothing you ever heard before” whilst enduring a real punk rock aesthetic. They were the first producers that I ever met who’s attitude, instead of holding back all but what they considered the very best of their material, was “put it all out - even if you don’t like it, someone else will!” - Not that you could really tell that by listening to their stuff. Often the reason why you might at first think a track is a dud was because you just didn’t get it!
On their sound all I’m going to say here, is “Very broad”: I have a mix of 37 trax here to show you how broad that sound really is, so the written word is no competition to that..
Personally, Subhead came crashing into my life round about 2002/2003 through mutual gigs in London, and then later, further afield in Germany - Phil & Jason were always the life and soul of any party, whether it be larging it in a freezing cold disused factory in the Elbe valley near Dresden, Gatecrashing the Tresor closing party (There were now 10 members of Subhead apparently, or so the doormen were informed as we gained free entry - and Subhead wasn’t even booked to play - Jase soon planned a Sub(head)terranian assault on the Tresor bunker - “I’m gonna steam the decks!”), Friedrichshain bar crawls with Jason after missing his flight back to the UK, to chilling at the pub in Vicky park with Phil.
Their numbers also included as resident studio monkey a certain Jamie Lidell who collaborated on the early releases. Side projects were also hatched including 2CB, Fix, X-Tras, Dot Com, and Jason’s House of Fix project which produced one of Tresor’s quirkiest releases ever.
Jason is still producing and performing around the world.
Phil sadly passed away in December 2007 - This mix is for you mate, I never did get to say goodbye to you properly - hope we’ll meet up on the other side..
Download
Mark Hawkins - Subheadless Mix
Track list below…
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