While other labels have followed trends and settled within the often restrictive boundaries of drum & bass, Certificate 18 has consistently troden it's own eclectic path.
Starting out with seminal artists such as Source Direct and Photek, the imprint has since brought us leftfield vibes from artists such as Klute, Teebee, Polar and Lexis.
This compilation the third in their excellent Hidden Rooms series serves as both an update and a snapshot of the label. Drafting in stalwart Doc Scott for mixing duties, the album covers a broad range of Cert 18 sounds over two CD's and reminds us exactly why this label is so important to lovers of drum & bass music.
Starting with the sublime Matrix remix of Klute's excellently abstract 'Phone Call', the good Doc takes us through a fluid selection of tracks on CD One. Moving through the smooth makeovers of Lexis's Destination Unknown', the dark buzz of Teebee's own reworking of his 'Space Age' classic, Polar's driving 'Skydiver', the ice cool mood and downtempo riddims of Mainline's 'Song 4 Eva' and ending with Photek's devastating mix of Lexis's 'Groove Therapy', this is a very different journey to the one most d & b comps attempt to take us on.
CD Two is even more textured and varied. Again Klute starts the show with the crepuscular 'We Believe' and opens the way for Polar's burning Optifunk, Mainline's robotic 'Second Phaze' (and his warmer, more flowing 'Dakota'), Teebee's crunchy, punchy 'Future War', Klute's light-bending on 'X-Mas' and Polar's stuttering 'Mass Mysterior'.
Over both mixes we get a good insight into the diversity not only of the label but also of the artists it houses. With layer upon layer of abstract science, warped bass, hard hitting ryhthms and a host of dark, mysterious and damn funky atmospheres, this is an essential purchase for those want a little more depth and innovation with their drum and bass.
