(idm) Ed Rush/Optical Interview and Track listing

From Will Samuels
Sent Thu, Feb 11th 1999, 01:50

---------- Forwarded message ----------
 Date: Mon, 08 Feb 1999 22:25:18 +0000
 From: Andrew Rieth <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>

Drum¹n¹Bass duo Ed Rush and Optical have just release their new album
Wormhole¹ and are providing this weekend¹s Essential Mix.  Where were
you and what were you doing musically when you got together?  

Optical: We met through friends and often met each other at Music
House cutting dubplates. I was working on my own musical   projects at
the time.  

Ed Rush: We were both living in West London, I was releasing tunes on
various labels  and DJing.  What do each of you bring musically to the
partnership? 
Optical: Ed Rush was making music for a longtime before we met. He has
a great sense  of what works on a dancefloor. 

Ed Rush: Optical brings his diverse musical talent and knowledge to
the outfit, his overall understanding of textures and depth is second
to none.   
How does Wormhole¹ differ from your previous solo projects?  

Optical: More exploration, more depth sonically.     

Ed Rush: As I¹ve got older my taste, attitude and preferences have
matured. I think there is more of a funk element, but we still keep
the attitude. 

If your music was a soundtrack what movie would it be?  
Optical: A Hitchcock thriller.  

Ed Rush: I would like to think musically we are more suited to a
science fiction theme, something like the 5th Element.   

What are your first memories of drum & bass, what were the tunes and
what were you doing at that period of time?  

Optical: I was working at Great Asset Distribution in the studio and
DJing at outdoor, free raves. I thought the use of breaks in  house
and hardcore was much needed. The progression to D&B was even better.  

Ed Rush: Oxford, in a field ten years ago at the Spiral Tribe phat
parties. The tunes were Naz AKA Naz ŒStarted Again¹, Ajax EP ¹28   Gun
Bad Boy¹ and A Guy Called Gerald. I was studying at college and had
just bought 
a pair of 1210¹s.   

What is your proudest achievement on vinyl?  
Optical: Lifespan¹, Crisis¹ and Wormhole¹.  
 
Ed Rush: Mothership¹ and Lifespan¹.  

What pisses you off?  

Optical: Everything (at one time or other). 

Ed Rush: Shit sound systems and MC¹s with verbal diarrhea.  

What is your favoriteŠ?  Hip hop track?  

Optical: Schooly D¹s first album. I loved the beats and rhymes. 

Ed Rush: EPMD ŒSo What Cha Sayin¹¹ and Redman Pick It Up¹. Both
produced by Eric  Serman ­ phat!!!  

Techno track? 

Optical: Lenny Dee Incinerator¹ and DX 13¹. Extreme hard New York
techno with amazing distorted sounds and bass. 

Ed Rush: Joey Beltram ŒClose Grind¹. Clever arrangements, amazing
loops and tight percussion. 

Drum & bass track? 

Optical: Impossible, it changes every few hours.  
Ed Rush: Too many to mention.  

House track?  

Optical: 20Hz¹ by Capricorn I think. Simple, with bad percussion and
chimes at the beginning.  

Ed Rush: Kevin Saunderson Uptempo¹. Very rollin¹.  

Name three living legends in music.  

Optical: RZA, Herbie Hancock and my brother Matrix.   
Ed Rush: James Brown, Eric Sermon and Dillinja. 

Is 1999 going to be a big year for drum & bass?  
Optical: The progression of the sound continues, it will be another
good year.  

Ed Rush: I think the whole foundation of the scene is so strong now,
although with the amount of worldwide interest it can onlyget
stronger.  

Why did you turn down all the major label deals that were offered you
last year? 

Optical: I get up when I like, work when I like on
what ever I like. We have total control of  our lives.  
Ed Rush: No one could offer us a deal we were totally happy with, it
is important for us to have control of everything.  

What are your plans for your record company, Virus?   
Optical: Keeping the right vibe to the label with more quality
releases this year.  

Ed Rush: We have several 12¹s line up and plans for another new album.  


The Track Listings for Radio Show
---------------------------------
                                                                      
     
MC Ryme Tyme & Optical - untitled¹ (Dub Plate)                   
                                                         
Bad Company - The Nine¹ (Renegade Hardware)                    
                                                      
Original Unknown Ram Trilogy Pt. 3 - Terminal¹ (Ram Records)   
                                                                       
Jonny L - ŒUnknown¹ (XL Recordings)                              
                                              
Ed Rush & Optical Wormhole VRS 001 LP -Fixation¹ (Virus Recordings)   
                                                            
   
Origin Unknown Ram Trilogy Pt. 2 -Mind Overload¹ (Ram Records)
       
DJ Trace - Sonar¹ (Prototype Rec's)                             

DJ Krust - Warhead Rmx¹ (V Recordings)                          
                                                  
Matrix - Unknown¹ (Metro)                                       
                                     
Bad Company - Pulse¹ (Prototype Rec's)                         
                                                  
Ed Rush & Optical - Bacteria¹ (Virus Recordings)               
  
Usual Suspects - I Give The Orders¹ (Renegade Hardware)         
                                                                   
MC Ryme Tyme - Payback Pt. 1¹ (D-Sci-4)                        
                                                   
Roni Size (DJ Die Rmx) - Watching Windows¹ (Talkin Loud)       

Matrix - Unknown¹ (Dub Plate)                                   
 
Ed Rush & Optical - Funktion¹ (V Recordings)                    

Bad Company - China Cup¹ (Dub Plate)                           

Ram Recordings - Iron Lung¹ (Dub Plate)                         
 
Optical -Newoptic¹ (Dub Plate)                                 

Ed Rush & Optical Wormhole VRS 001LP - Dozer¹ (Virus Rec)       

DJ Die - Clear Skies¹ (Full Cycle)                              

Usual Suspects - Sin¹ (Renegade Hardware)                      

Usual Suspects - Killa Beez¹ (Renegade Hardware)                

Ram Trilogy Pt. 3 - Chase Scene¹ (Ram Records)                  
  
Ed Rush & Optical - Watermelon¹ (Virus Recordings)                    
             
                                         
System Error 99 - Origin Unknown¹ (Ram Records)                 
 
Ed Rush & Optical - Gasmask¹ (Virus Recordings)                 
                                                           
Optical & Fierce - Beachball¹ (Renegade Hardware)               
 
Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce - Alien Girl¹ (Prototype)             
 
Ed Rush & Optical Wormhole VRS 001LP - Slip Through¹ (Virus
Recordings)                                                           
   
     
Ed Rush & Optical - ŒSick Note¹ (Virus Recordings)



_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com