Drum and bass has copped constant criticism over the years for its common inability to grasp the attention of the casual observer. Rapid-fire breakbeats, dark and sinister synths grouped with an in-your-face 170 plus BPM attitude haven’t always provided the most welcoming platform to the curious listener.

Perhaps the answer to this criticism is the latest instalment in the legendary Fabric Live series that has been widely promised to be the D’n’B disc that can be enjoyed by all.

Destroying misconceptions that D’n’B can’t be deep, melodic, soulful music, Marcus Intalex calmly and precisely delivers FabricLive 35 – easily one of the highlights of the series so far.

Intalex is said to have taught himself how to mix, that his natural love of music led him to just “instinctively know” how from an early age, which he demonstrates throughout the disc with smooth, polished, calmly executed transitions such as ‘All the Days’ into ‘Global Enemies’ which sit together comfortably for what seems like ages, a rarity in todays DJing circles, until he gradually fades effortlessly into the next track.

Although the focus is generally more centred on heavy bass lines and slower, calmer beats than is standard fare of late, Intalex constantly pulls out the surprises, traversing different interpretations of the genre with ease, switching from infectious dancefloor stormers like the catchy ‘Hustlin’ to dark, ethereal sounds like those of the haunting ‘Clarendon’ and back again seamlessly, to finish on an absolute high point with the beautiful ‘Solitary Native,’ a gorgeous, haunting melodious track featuring subtle strings and eerie atmospheric vocals proving to be a more than appropriate finish to a wonderful mix tape.

Featuring solid contributions from Lynx, Calibre, Jonny L, Duo Infernale and Marcus himself among many others, Fabric Live 35 is sure to open more doors for Intalex and his forward-thinking label, Soul:R recordings, and their much maligned brand of drum and bass.

Once upon a time, you may have caught a Marcus Intalex set in an empty, quiet back room; or playing the 5 a.m. graveyard set to the few punters that haven’t yet collapsed from chemical-fuelled exhaustion.

Don’t be surprised if that all changes very, very soon.

For comments on this review go to:
http://www.teknoscape.com.au/forums/showthread.php?p=1494248

Tracklist:
01. Calibre ft. Lariman –Over Reaction - Signature
02. Calibre – All The Days - Signature
03. Lynx ft. Kemo – Global Enemies – Soul:r
04. Commix – Faceless (Marcus Intalex Remix) – Shogun
05. Jonny L – Come Here – Mr L Records
06. Amaning vs. Dubwise – Smash V.I.P. – Soul:r
07. Soulmatic – Self Belief – Good Looking
08. Calibre ft. DRS – Hustlin’ - Signature
09. Calibre – Mr Right On - Signature
10. Deadly Habit – Synesthesia (Theory Remix) - Tentative
11. Breakage – Clarendon – Digital Soundboy
12. Alix Perez and Lynx – Allegiance – Soul:r
13. Zero Tolerance ft. Steo – Refusal – Soul:r
14. Mistical – Time To Fly – Soul:r
15. Duo Infernale – Feeling Blue – Soul:r
16. Instra:mental – Pacific Heights - Darkestral
17. Bango Collective ft. Kemo and Dennis Jones – Apocalypse – Soul:r
18. Mistical – Groove Me – Soul:r
19. Alix Perez and Sabre – Solitary Native – SGN:LTD