The dub label celebrates its first 10 years.

In the industrial heartlands of Birmingham, Richard Whittingham and Glyn “Bigga” Bush set the controls for the heart of the bass when they formed Different Drummer records in 1993. Originally intended as an outlet for their own Rockers Hi-Fi (formerly Original Rockers) material – whose Push Push single and Rockers To Rockers album redefined dub for the acid house generation – it has since grown into the premier outlet for forward-thinking dub productions.

As much about the deeper dancefloors of today as the dancehalls of Jamaica past, Different Drummer’s truly international roster encompasses acts such as International Observer from New Zealand and Noiseshaper from Berlin. Alongside West Midlands reggae warriors G-Corp (formerly Electribe 101) and experimental electronicists Painted Van and Mighty Math. They were also the first British imprint to forge links with the German and Austrian nu-jazz scenes that grew up around Compost and G-Stone, with their Spliffen Sie Englisch? compilation – and Richard Dorfmeister has returned the favour by compiling and mixing Different Drummer’s 10th anniversary collection, A Decade In Dub.

Their Leftfoot club nights in Birmingham have given birth to the Different Drummer sound system – with core members Whittingham, DJ Adam Regan and MC Tweed regularly touring worldwide – and the Leftfoot recordings label, whose first release was the infamous Ella Fitzgerald vs Rockers Hi-Fi Sunshine Of Your Love.

“It’s all about putting your balls on the line and standing by the music you believe in,” says Richard. “The only real ethos we have is playing the best music we can find through the best sound system we can afford.” Unlike most of the factories in their hometown, Different Drummer are still producing the goods. Paul Clarke 03 October 03

A Decade In Dub is out now. Al-Haca Sound System, released 06 October 03 on Different Drummer.

useful link: www.diffdrum.co.uk