Bless the Mad
In 1994, the British label Mo Wax tapped into a global movement to release a series of collections called Headz. Combining the rhythms and tempos of hip hop and dub with electronic dance music subgenres including drum & bass, illbient, and downtempo, it offered a taste of an ascendent sound coming to be known as trip hop. That first release featured tracks by DJ Shadow, Autechre, UNKLE, and Attica Blues, and helped corral a bunch of different scenes onto its six sides. Two years later Mo Wax issued a the follow-up. Called Headz II, it was so thick that the label divided it into two volumes. While each in the series has its bangers, the 4 LP set Headz II Part B is particularly deep, featuring Japanese trip hop legend DJ Krush, a remix of Innerzone Orchestra’s classic “Bug in the Bassbin,” instrumental hip hop tracks by the Jungle Bros. and Beastie Boys, and pensive jungle-adjacent tracks from Peshay, Attica Blues, Dillinja, and Source Direct. This series isn’t on streaming sites, but some of the tracks show up on artist-focused releases. Mo Wax pressed a lot of these, though, so they’re not too hard to come by, especially the CD version, which is packaged in a nice laminated box. The 4LP set is also exquisitely packaged.— Randall
Tags: Autechre / Breakbeat / DJ Shadow / Hip Hop / mo wax / Nightmares on Wax / Trip-hop
Tracklist:
A1 The Prunes – Intermission Pt. 1
A2 Luminis – Spectral Arc
A3 Luke Vibert – Sharp Az
A4 Money Mark – World Lesson Part II
A5 Twig Bud – Swiss Air
B1 The Prunes – Intermission Pt. 2
B2 Time Has Come (Portishead Plays UNKLE Mix)
B3 Grantby – It’s Coming
B4 Donut Productions – Wirecutter
C1 The Prunes – Intermission Pt. 3
C2 The Dust Brothers – The Groomsman
C3 Skull – Crash
C4 Beastie Boys – Flute Loop
C5 DJ Krush – Maze
D1 The Prunes – Intermission Pt. 4
D2 Attica Blues – Sketch
D3 Jungle Brothers – Ultimatum Ultra Mix (Jungle Beats, Jungle Bass)
D4 Danny Breaks – Science Fu Beats
E1 The Prunes – Intermission Pt. 5
E2 The Force – Future Tense
E3 Palm Skin Productions – The Beast (System Remix)
E4 Peshay – The Real Thing
F1 The Prunes – Intermission Pt. 6
F2 Dillinja – In the Mood
F3 Roni Size and DJ Krust – Tribetoon
F4 Source Direct – The Silent Witness
G1 The Prunes – Intermission Pt. 7
G2 As One – The Counterpoint
G3 Innerzone Orchestra – Bug in the Bassbin (Street Mix)
H1 The Prunes – Intermission Pt. 8
H2 Black Dog Productions – Object Orient
H3 Special Forces – Trilogy
H4 Max 404 – Quiddity (Last Visit)
H5 Zimbabwe Legit – Shadow’s Legitimate Mix (1991)
Credits:
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Mo Wax Recordings
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – A&M Records Ltd.
Copyright © – Mo Wax Recordings
Copyright © – A&M Records Ltd.
Lacquer Cut At – Metropolis Mastering
