X-Press 2: The Ransom Note Mix

5 Minute Read

Music

A big exotic blend of the best in House and Disco from a pair of legends.

X-Press 2 are DJ Diesel and DJ Rocky. They need little introduction to be frank.

Two pioneers of UK House music who released some of the most influential records of the 90’s and 2000’s when Dance music might have been at its very biggest and frankly coolest. A lot of the music they released back then has stood the test of time – whether it be singalong classics like ‘Lazy’ featuring the voice of David Byrne or a classic Junior Boy’s Own Cut like ‘The Sound’. Their music still bangs loudly in clubs all over the world to this very day and in all honesty they remain two of the most interesting and committed to House music in the game.

All of this made it even more exciting when we were sent over a copy of their firth album upcoming on Acid Jazz. The pair describe the forthcoming record:

“We’re so excited to be releasing ‘Thee’ with Acid Jazz. It’s been a long time coming, and some of the tracks have been with us for around ten years now. So it’s fantastic to finally get them finished and pulled together with a bunch of new tunes to form an entirely new album.”

The new album is a testament to their ability to adapt and weave their sound into new interpretations of style and genre. The record is a playful collection of floor fillers and grooves which are highly addictive. Reminiscent of some of the greatest X-Press moments.

This mix shows us that they remain just as classy as ever.

Listen below:

Please introduce yourself…

Darren: Hello, I’m one half of X-Press 2
Diesel: Diesel

Who are you, where are you and what are you?

Darren: I’m Darren, I’m at home and I’m a he/him/it.

Diesel: Music enthusiast, West London, Aquarian

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

Where was the mix recorded?

Darren: At home

Diesel:Rockys House

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Darren: Wherever really. Car, beach, disco, kitchen, round your mates after the rave. etc etc etc.

Diesel:The woods

What should we be wearing?

Darren: Dungarees and wallabees

Diesel: Very little

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

Darren: Some mountain side in Japan somewhere. Any format we’d be happy with tbh. Location location location…

Diesel: Metropolis Studio/Mastering Room/ Vinyl

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Darren: Harry Romero – The Journey

Diesel: Impossible – all of ‘em!

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Darren: Late Night Tales: David Holmes. Simply stunning from start to finish. Never tire of listening to it.

Diesel: The Mineshaft New York ‘85 – Jim rice

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Darren: Maybe Ron or Larry. If pushed I think Ron Hardy, I just love the sound that he was playing.

Diesel: DJ Froggy. To play on his sound system @ The Royalty

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

Darren: 2 x technics 1210s (which I still own, and they work perfectly) and a Citronic SM250 mixer. Now I live in a mid terraced cottage with very little space so my current set up is Ableton Live V11.

Diesel: Technics 1200s, Pioneer amp and NuMark mixer. Now Rega turntable, Naim amp and Bowers & Wilkins speakers.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Darren: For me the ending

Diesel: Never really thought about it.. both?

What were the first and last records you bought?

Darren: The first record I bought was Squeeze – Cool For Cats and the last was a seven inch of Love Child’s Afro Cuban Blues Band – Ask Me, an instrumental disco version of the Ecstacy Passion and Pain classic.

Diesel: First, Peaches – Stranglers 7” and last, Essra Mohawk LP

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Darren: Water melon

Diesel:Pretzels

If it was an animal what would it be?

Darren: A kingfisher

Diesel:Fox

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Darren: Laurent X – Machines (If you know, you know)

Diesel:Any of my free jazz records

Anything else we need to discuss?

Darren: Album, ‘Thee’ getting released on Acid Jazz on October 13th. Several remixes for some really amazing artists that we’ve been working on over the past few months too!

Diesel: The climate