Has It Come To This: The Locked On Poll

top 5
Doolally - Straight From The Heart
Dem 2 - Destiny (Sleepless)
Zed Bias - Neighbourhood
Monsta Boy - Sorry (I Didn't Know)
Todd Edwards - Saved My Life (remix presumably?)

but not heard at least half the list!

Love the label but haven't heard almost half of these. A lot of this stuff is hard to get ahold of if you're not into vinyl it seems..?

Top 5:
Dem 2 - Baby You're So Sexy

Antonio - Hyper Funk (though the Gurley remix, which is the best mix isn't on this release I don't think)

David Howard - U & I

Nu-Birth - Can't Stop (I like Anytime more, which I think is also Locked On..)

US Alliance - All I Know

Top 5 non-"Destiny" cuts:

Todd Edwards - Shut The Door
The Wideboys - Something's Got Me Started
London Dodgers - Down Down Biznizz
James Lavonz - Mash Up Da Venue
Zed Bias - Neighbourhood

tho too many classics to mention, really! Wish more Locked On 12"s turned up in discount bins around here, sigh.

Mr Anephric, I think "Anytime" and Danny Lewis' "Spend The Night" predated the label but were rereleased on it - I included them but took them out again to get the number down to 50.

I was surprised to notice that they released 12 inch last year after a six year absence! Goldielocks' "Wasteman" - anyone heard it?

I will come back and divide (what I've heard of) the above list into the categories A+++, A++, A+, A etc.

A+++

Dem 2 - Destiny
Dolally - Straight From The Heart
Zed Bias - Neighbourhood
David Howard - U & I
James Lavonz - Mash Up Da Venue
London Dodgers - Down Down Biznizz
El-B - Serious (Zed Bias Remix)

A++:

Dem 2 - Baby (You're So Sexy)
U.S. Alliance - All I Know
The Wideboys - Something's Got Me Started (Dub)

A+:

Operator & Baffled - Things Are Never (Steve Gurley Mix)
Suburban Lick - You're Mine
Suburban Lick - Here Come The Lick
Monsta Boy - Sorry (I Didn't Know)
Leee John - Your Mind, Your Body, Your Soul
Ruffcut-Bias - Down
Antonio - Hyperfunk
The Artful Dodger - Moving Too Fast
Todd Edwards - Changed My Life (Large Joints Remix)
Nu-Birth - Can't Stop (Asylum Remix)
The Streets - Has It Come To This

Is the re-release the one with the Tuff Jam and Dem 2 remixes? That's the one I'm thinking of.

Honestly though I think I'd be tempted to A+ all of these except for the Monsta Boy track.

is the KMA EP the one with "cape fear"?

nope. different label i think.

A:

Somore - I Refuse (What You Want)
Talisman - Bad Blood
Phuturistix - Matrix EP
El-B - Serious
Sovereign - Raver Ravin'
Zed Bias - Time Out
Todd Edwards - Shut The Door
The Wideboys - Sambucca
Red or Dred - How I Feel
Brotherz in Law - U.N.D.E.R.G.R.O.U.N.D.

...and i don't think i've heard the rest! Actually I know I've heard some of the DJ Faz but I can't remember it right now.

Some more Locked On stuff I want to single out as being especially amazing:

Dem 2 - Destiny (New Horizons Mix) - this is truly astonishing
Doolally - Straight From The Heart (Bump & Flex Hardstep Dub)
Suburban Lick - You're Mine (Ed Case 2001 Refix)
Nu-Birth - Anytime (Dem 2 Nice 'n' Sleazy Mix)
Groove Connektion 2 - Club Lonely (Dem 2 'Don't Cry' Dub)

Add El-B's "Digital" to the "A" section.

oh man even if i had heard all of these, i don't know if any of them could top "destiny"

the right mix of "i refuse" might top "destiny"

amazing run of tracks here - thanks for the poll Tim !

for some reason quality-wise (and centrality to scene) I'm always reminded of seeming parallels from other eras, like Moving Shadow re: Jungle and 4AD re: 80's indie.

revisiting this the 2 tracks that jump out the most as uber-classics are Dem 2 - "Destiny (Sleepless)" and Todd Edwards - "Saved My Life".
the story I heard on "Destiny" goes - people were coming into Pure Groove asking for a track that went "dance with me!" (sic), which they (the Tidy Trax dude owners - Tariq and Steve?) couldn't figure out for a while until they realised it was one called "Sleepless" that they had in stock all that time - which they then proceeded to license and retitle to the recognizable actual lyric!

because "Saved My Life" is primarily associated with iRecords that leaves "Destiny" as my ultimate Locked On track, but...
according to the lovely theory of obscurity, the second tier and sleepers are the real faves:

Cloud 9 - "Do You Want Me" is classic in its original 4/4, but Dem 2's 2-Step(s to heaven?) remix is just the ultimate minimal garage ballad: the beats amidst black space are MILITANT - Miles Davis eat your heart out!

my least fave track here (by a mile) is "Baby (You're So Sexy)", but then I disliked "Sweet Like Chocolate" too, both tracks strike me as piss-weak (lyrically and rhythmically), especially from the respective artists of "Destiny" and the bumpalicious "Straight From The Heart".
speaking of Doolally (aka Shanks & Bigfoot), my fave run here is prob the 4 from Doolally thru U.S. Alliance.
but while the "Grunge dub" of "All I Know" got a lot of attention, my fave Dem 2 -related gem from around then is one (or both?) of the dubs of De Souza - "keep It Coming".

managed to get on the Locked On list for a while (thanks Andy Lewis), but wasn't so accurate on the feedback sheets - I didn't feel that "Moving Too Fast" had an especially commercial lyric: the "keep your dirty hands off me" bit (what a downer), but I underestimated the classic synth-pop melody line (like a mellow Yazoo).

Leee John - "Your Mind Your Body Your Soul" is a real winner, classic (Imagination) vocalist over 2-step funk - love that era! the track is always paired for me with one by Sas - can't remember the name right now, but it is push-pull syncopated marimba funk. think Sas is or has something to do with Steve Gurley and or DJ Phantasy.

El-B - "Serious (Zed Bias remix)" and London Dodgers - "Down Down Biznizz" I'll always associate with Tim, because his writing turned me on to the former and it was nice to see someone else raving about the latter, which was my most-wanted forthcoming 12" for a good while. El-B - "Serious (Zed Bias remix)" is my pick for dark horse of this whole batch - it is DEVASTATING ON THE DANCEFLOOR!!! also goes good in a set with another of Tim's faves from that time: Tj Cases' "One By One".

finally a BIG SHOUT OUT to a major talent here, responsible for 2 of the best Locked On 12"s ever (his others are good too): Mr James Lavonz - "Mash Up Da Venue" (scything juddering rhythm) and "Personality" (which with its M - "Pop Muzik" sample should be an ILM/NYPLM [remember that?] fave). "Personality" (a weird, heavy 4/4/ monster) gets people running up to the DJ booth - "what the F*CK is that?!"

SAS ft Leee John - "Keep On Reaching" (ah, that explains it!)

Paul I was thinking of you when I made this poll!

Funnily enough I've only ever heard the Zed Bias remix of "Serious" while out (but this is going back eight years ago or so) or in snippets, I've basically been keeping faith with a memory w/r/t its brilliance.

Paul do you like the Dub version of Dem 2's "Baby (You're So Sexy)" though? That's the the version I always think of owing to its use on Timmi Magic's Pure Silk: The Third Dimension comp (which is amazing BTW). I don't think you could call the Dub pissweak rhythmically. I only vaguely know the original version.

I actually have very few of these. I have some CD singles ( "Anytime", "Spend The Night", the vocal version of "Destiny", "Straight From The Heart", "Club Lonely", "Neighbourhood", plus a non-Locked On release of "Sambucca") and then "How I Feel" and "Down Down Biznizz". The others I only know from comps etc.

"Leee John - "Your Mind Your Body Your Soul" is a real winner, classic (Imagination) vocalist over 2-step funk - love that era! "

Took a while for me to recognise the brilliance of this actually, I thought it was very good originally but it seemed quite subtle, but it's just impeccable isn't it, like a dish where each flavour is balanced off each other perfectly.

"for some reason quality-wise (and centrality to scene) I'm always reminded of seeming parallels from other eras, like Moving Shadow re: Jungle and 4AD re: 80's indie."

What strikes me with Locked On is the way in which it combined that centrality with a really strongly articulated aesthetic. I remember reading Zed Bias complain that Locked On were never happy that he didn't come up with another "Neighbourhood", the implication being that they were only interested in hits. But (and with the caveat that Bias would know more about this than I would) this makes perfect sense to me: "Neighbourhood", apart from being an anthem, is a quintessential Locked On tune, the way it balances lushness with ruffness, the rude and the smooth. For Locked On I think the notion of pushing artistry or experimentalism or genre-fusionism at the expense of making tunes for the street wouldn't have made sense. But the reverse is also true: Locked On never felt self-conscious about being forward-thinking and putting out challenging tunes. I just love that unthinking balance.

Tim re: "Baby (You're So Sexy)" dub - I am curious about it - may not have given it a proper listen in light of disappointment with the song's vocal/lyrics. I passed my advance on to bigtime Dem 2 fan Simon*, since he'd helped get me into 2-step and UKG to begin with and I do remember him saying later he liked the dub. seeing it's actually called 'Big Time Scary Dub mix' piques interest and in the context of that Timmi Magic mix it may have been put to good use!

*usually don't just give him tunes I think are rub!

re: your last paragraph - can see Locked On's point in that say the KMA EP is interesting, but never quite gels - I much prefer "Cape Fear" and "Kaotic Madness". also although Steve Gurley's take on "Things Are Never" is fun (and dare I say it? wonky) - it's not as strong as the fearsome original and becomes an exercise in experiment - sonically beautiful but more abstract than physically/psychically gripping (I'd argue New Horizon's infamous submarine remix of their own "Find The Path" as better at the weirdness game).

MORE LOCKED ON GOODNESS:

Robloe & Kin - "Bounce" (catalogued as a 2001 promo issue: LOCK PROMO 4)
an alltime fave - the bass implies larger volume: sounds like it's emanating through concrete from a lower level of the basement parking garage...

Nu Birth - Anytime (Groove Chronicles mix)
El-B/Lewis Beadle once said he was still vibing off the (bracing minimal funk) sound of his mix on this - it's one of their underplayed gems (Groove Chronicles were shit hot n heavy for a while there - the Dillinja of UKG).
find it on second of the two vinyl Locked On Best Of Exclusive Remixes LP's: LOCKEDLP001-2

can someone make a torrent of all these tracks please

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

The paucity of results distresses me.

the paucity of the songs i know in the poll distresses me. i know maybe 4 of them? how is this possible?

can someone make a torrent of all these tracks please

― moonship journey to baja, Wednesday, 10 June 2009 04:50 (5 days ago)

^^, or at least somebody putting more than about three Locked On tracks onto YouTube. Still never heard "Personality";!

Voted for "Neighbourhood", as I figured it'd be "Destiny" in a landslide.

none of these tracks being on itunes or beatport is kinda indefensible. get it together, 2-step archivists

i couldn't pick just one.

The best way to acquaint yourselves with a whole bunch of these quickly is through Locked On affiliated comps, like the Sound of the Pirate comps and this great Muzik magazine mix.

Also the early Locked On Vols 1 - 3 mixes obv but I don't have those, or the Best of Locked On CD :-(

wouldve voted for u.s. alliance despite not having heard the great majority of these

I didn't notice the poll. A pity, if I had noticed, my pick (aka Mash Up Da Venue) would have tied for first place.

And yeah, kind of sad how unavailable this stuff still is. I remember in 2002 admiring how quickly new 12"s were appearing on p2p services and thinking how nice if that kind of distribution infrastructure had been around just a couple of years earlier for 2step. On the other hand, going by the paucity of uk funky on net it probably wouldn't have made a difference.

I remember downloading large amounts of UK garage from Napster and then Audiogalaxy between 2000 and 2002, but I lost it all several computers ago.

i bet you could find most of this stuff on slsk latest beta

Voting for "Down Down Biznizz" over "Mash Up Da Venue", "U & I", "Neighbourhood" and "Destiny" broke my heart.

Just now hearing Ebony's "sexy" for the the first time and it's very nice. I have to ask though, the drum programming sounds a lot like Dem 2 to me. Is this them under a different name?

...and whatever happened to Dem 2 anyway? Did they ever go on to anything else?

Don't know the answer to either question. Dem 2 did release a 4/4 version of "Destiny" a few years back though. Called "Destiny (In My Bed)" I think.

The very nice Ach! posted a download link for the Locked On Unlocked Muzik Magazine mix to this Dissensus thread. Check it!

I think Ebony is a James Lavonz alias, cos both sides of the 12" are his mixes (at least I think Norf Pole is another Lavonz alias/mix name).

after all the chat above I forgot to vote on time, couldn't narrow to one yet!
top likely:
Lavonz vs Deneshae - "Personality"
Cloud 9 - "Do You Want Me"
Lavonz - "Mash Up Da Venue"
Dem 2 - "Destiny"
De Souza - "Keep It Comin' " (just for that awesome slinky dub)

(that's 2 by Lavonz and 3 [mixes] by Dem 2)

ok - now who's up for a Public Demand poll?

Yes, lets! I'm actually astonished to realise I know an incredibly large number of those, at least if you start from 1997.

The discogs list is a bit of a mess though. Damn these labels and their complicated reissues/exclusive editions/etc. numbering systems.

picked up the best of locked on comp after tim recommended it here, vybin out to it on this fine sunday

Did Paul ever hear the Big Time Scary Dub of "Baby (You're So Sexy)" - amazing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGfCJCDdXN4

The paucity of results distresses me.

― Tim F, Monday, 15 June 2009 00:02 (fourteen years ago) link

^^^^^ Still true, only now most of these tracks are on streaming services so you really have no excuse!!!

Locked On is the widest label section in my whole collection. Tempa might be second. Ghost and El-B affiliated third.