MARCUS NASTY – RINSE 10 (Rinse)

 

Jan. 29th, 2010 by Tomas Palermo

DJ Marcus Ramsey, commonly known as Marcus Nasty, is UK pirate Rinse FM’s funky ambassador. But wait – is it still called UK funky? The way British subgenres are appearing and fading almost monthly, it’s anyone’s guess. Yet since 2000 Nasty has forwarded UK garage and grime’s fatter, stouter, bass-driven styles from producers like Sticky (of Ms. Dynamite fame) and Youngstar. For his Rinse 10 mix Nasty assembles 29 well-chosen funky house, soca, and bassline numbers that provide a superb snapshot of the underground’s quickly evolving sounds.

Divided evenly between song-based and instrumental tracks, Nasty shows his talents as a selector but he’s quick on the draw. As promptly as Fuzzy Logic’s sweet vocal track “Call Me” featuring L.A. Carter slides in, it’s mixed away after one chorus to make room for Lil Silva’s throbbing “Different.” Silva’s repetitive “DJ tools”-style instrumentals frequent the mix – nearly 20 percent of the tracks are his productions. That small gripe aside, UK funky’s biggest names represent well here: Crazy Couzins, Roska, and Funkystepz provide highlights throughout.

The key to an effective funky blend is the tension between soulful vocal numbers – represented here by Fuzzy Logic, Rudimental featuring May and Nitro and Plague with Essence – DJ toasts like Ill Blu’s “Rider,” and head-turning instrumentals like Agent X’s “Trauma.” Nasty arranges these styles and more, with excellent hand drum and percussion rattling through the tracks. Nasty’s varied selection provides evidence that funky is a legitimate step forward for British dance music. Moodier sub-bass jams like Lil Silva’s “Pulse X” will keep grime heads engaged while R&B-ish songs like Sweet Boy Candy’s “Caught Up” ensure that the mix isn’t too adrenaline-saturated. Marcus Nasty offers bass with taste.