Dedicated to the memory of label founder and far-sighted A&R man Vini Medley, who died of a brain tumour on 16 November 2000, 'Forever Young' spreads over a mammoth three CDs containing 49 songs donated by the artists who Vini at one time worked with.
Not only is this testimony to the respect that the people who, in Botchit terms, 'dug' Vini felt towards him, in its very conception it's a tribute to the breadth and depth of his musical exploration.
Perhaps the most direct expression of his music is contained on CD2, which ripples with the low slung and dirty bass sounds and spluttering break beats that characterised the Botchit sound under his command.
Nowhere is this better expressed than the superb, churning cross-cultural explosion of Vini vs The Funk Monster's 'Dominion', which slots in nicely before Elizabeth Troy's tribute, 'Forever Young' - as re-mixed into a superb slab of blistering breaks and bass future funk by Vini's star findings, Freq Nasty and B.L.I.M.
Alongside this we find tracks by Atomic Hooligan featuring Cousin Vini's 'Larger Than Life', Midfield General's 'Go Off 2002', Uncouth Youth's rocking 'B-boys on Da Docks Vr Mix', Funk Monsters bleep driven 'Brainscan' and Pilgrim's superbly atmospheric 'Brother Analogue'.
CD 1 contains downtempo offerings, kicking in with Atomic Hooligans re-working of Elizabeth Troy's title track, followed by a host of artists who couldn't be further away from the saccharin that's promoted as chill out these days if they were thrash metal acts. In place of Dido we get the dub end pressure of Pressure Drop, Soto & Amaziree,, Elia, Orange Kush, Raw Deal, TC Islam, Roots Manuva, Meat Katie, Shara Nelson and T Power.
Finally CD 3 pays homage to Vini's musical entry point with 18 tracks of drum 'n' bass, hip hop and garage supplied by Red Snapper, Reece, MJ Cole, Shy Fx, Skinny, Kosheen and Alison David.
All artists donated their tracks and at least 50 per cent of the proceeds will go to the Willow Foundation Charity in honour of Vini Medley.
Ben Osborne
by Ben Osborne