Technical Itch - Back 2 Back Mix - Nov 2005

Biography of Technical Itch

Back in 1991 Mark Caro was based in Birmingham, DJing at local parties & starting out on the production trail with a very limited set up. As the years passed Mark's unit became more professional & he released tracks as ENTT through the Ibiza label. Mark had by now hooked up with Darren Beale (Decoder) who helped him out on the first Plasmic Life EP that appeared on Bizzy B's Brain imprint.

Further releases ensued, but Mark had the desire to set up his own label, so launched Tech Itch Recordings. The label achieved some success, but it wasn't until Kenny Ken played a selection of Tech Itch tracks on Kiss FM that the rewards of all the hard work began to pay off. On the back of this exposure the Technical Itch name was signed to 'Moving Shadow' &, with Mark by this time settled in Bristol, as they say - the rest is history.

On Moving Shadow, Mark Caro has built up a reputation for delivering tracks with power, venom & highly detailed production qualities. Over the past few years he has unleashed frighteners like 'The Dreamer' (Shadow 099), 'The Virus' (Shadow 101), & 'Stronghold' / 'Hidden Sound' (Shadow 116), while in 1999 two monstrous singles ('Trysyinate' / 'Scope' - 'vintage Tech Itch' Knowledge - March / April 1999; and 'LED' / 'Arced' - 'rock hard noise terrorism' Muzik - July 1999) paved the way for Mark to deliver his debut album to the label. 'Diagnostics' embraces all the qualities that has made the Tech Itch sound so popular - sinister atmospherics, brutal beats, gut wrenching bass & breathtaking production; but with this collection a more refined edge & a clinical execution of dance floor aesthetics made this package all the more accessible.

Of the album, Update (9th May 1999) said that 'Mark 'Tech Itch' Caro has created a sound, & for that alone he deserves recognition, 'Diagnostics' has its place in Drum & Bass history. Tech-step at its most inventive', while Muzik commented that '....with this album, the heavyweight is made accessible to all......Caro sure knows how to instigate the dramatic', & Flipside noted that '....the future of drum & bass is safe in the hands of the man with the itch.'

On his own Tech Itch Recordings imprint Mark has released under a variety of monikers. Back in the days of 'Circuit Breaker' & 'UXB' (circa 1996/7) Mark recorded with Darren Beale as Decoder, but in recent years has opted for Secret Methods, Mark Caro & Technical Itch. 1997's Secret Methods Vol. 1 housed two slices of hardcore dance floor devastation in 'Domain' & 'Raw Data', while the last year's collaboration with Decoder resulted in 'EKO' smashing its way through the Drum & Bass scene. Creating the 'Diagnostics' album for Moving Shadow meant a slowing down of releases on Tech Itch Recordings last year, but 1999 saw the label rolling hard again with an even greater release schedule planned for 2000. The first arrival was the long-awaited Secret Methods Vol. 2, on which 'Animation' and 'Vortex' lay in wait to aurally abuse every listener.

This has recently been followed up by the double header pitching Decoder's 'Headlock' with 'Technical Itch's bruising 'Deception'. 'In short, a killer track destined to be played out for a long time yet' said Echoes (15 May 1999) while Atmosphere (Issue 46) were equally impressed, saying that 'Deception brings out the original trademark flava.....y'know, the one y'all have got to know and love. Cool man.' Recent releases from the label have included collaborations between Technical Itch & the US #1 Dieselboy on 'Atlantic State' & 'Scythe V2', & also with Served Chilled's Barticus as Biostacis. Meanwhile early next year, amidst the single releases, will be the first ever Tech Itch Recordings compilation - 'Subculture'..

As well as Mark's own creations, he is involved with the aforementioned Biostacis project who released the almighty 'Flashpoint' earlier this year on Audio Couture & more recently the 'Gamma Ray' & 'Menace' 12' on Tech Itch. February 2000 will see the 1st Biostacis EP, again released on his own Tech Itch.

Throughout his production career his studio skills have also been sought after by countless labels for production & remix work. These include Formation, Renegade Hardware, Fuze, Sub Pop & Palm Pictures where he has turned Mocean Workers 'Heaven @ 12.07' into one of the chunkiest hunks of tech-funk Drum & Bass that you'll hear. Current projects include the 'Parallax' EP for release December 1999, his next Moving Shadow album, co-production of Dieselboy' album project(s) with Palm Pictures, the further development of Biostacis & also next year's ongoing Label Residency & Touring commitments.

Dylan - Back 2 Back Mix - Nov 2005

Biography of Dylan

The Sultan of Sickness, Dylan needs no introduction when it comes to drum & bass. The past few years have seen this top DJ and Producer go from absolute strength to strength, not only producing consistently, but consistently good; proving him to be, without a doubt, one of the hottest talents in the scene.

Dylan began back in the Electro era buying records and mixing them up on a couple of budget turntables, He then followed the music and studied all the different genres, evolving from Electro to Hip Hop to House and finally, his life 'Drum n' Bass! Taking the obvious first step, Dylan played on the London pirate radio scene with long time friend B Key for many years. His shows were legendary, with exclusive track selections and plenty of added humour to keep the listeners entertained ('Dylan is definitely known as the prankster to his friends!). Dylan decided to turn his twisted mind to the production side of things, scraping the money together for his first studio set up, and started to master the sampler and computer with B Key. They would spend every hour possible getting to grips with the equipment, and soon had some tracks complete - which they played to Danny Breaks. This lead to the debut releases of Kosmos 'Tighten Up' and 'Liquid Beats'. By then, Dylan had definitely caught the bug and hasn't looked back since. He has continued to produce killer after killer including the anthem 'Need You' with Ink, The 'Inferno EP,Dominion and Penitentiary to name a few. Releasing on renown labels such as Metalheadz,Renegade Hardware, Outbreak, Cylon, Timeless, Moving Shadow, Droppin' Science, Architecture, Musica, Biotic, XXX and has collaborated with a slew of top producers in the scene including Technical Itch, Friction,Paradox, as well as his own projects 'Faith in Chaos' alongside Robyn Chaos, and 'The Four Horsemen' together with Loxy, Keaton, and Ink.

This past year has been a very busy one for Mr Dylan, with the conception of his first solely owned label 'Freak Recordings' responsible for some of the years hottest releases such as Knowledge Award winner Dkay's 'Be There 4 U' and 'Martians' as well as Mason featuring Armanni Reign and Sharpness MC 'Ruff Rugged and Raw'. 2004 also sees Dylan taking his place among the mighty soldiers of the legendary Metalheadz imprint with tracks 'Metaphor' and 'Lost Dreams' an honour for someone so consistently inspired by the label's releases over the years. Dylan and Robyn Chaos (Anger Management) also started up the now internationally renown 'Therapy Session's' in London's Shoreditch, East End, without a doubt providing some of the deadliest mid week line-ups a junglist could ever wish for (for a price so reasonable, it's practically theft!).

From his residency at the Renegade Hardware nights at The End in Central London, to across the U.S., South Africa, All over Europe, Puerto Rico and, of course, the U.K., Dylan's djing has been consistently crippling dancefloors for years. His style ranges from demented darkness to ghetto funk, always retaining those trademark hard-driving, solid beats. The first releases from Freak Recordings twisted sister label 'Obscene Recordings' and 'Intasounds' (Alongside 1Xtra's Bailey) already have the drum and bass public in a frenzy! After the rock and roll exploits of the XXX 29 date US 'Technical Freaks' Tour earlier this year alongside partner in grime Technical Itch, and the WMC live show with Faith In Chaos in Miami, 2004 will see Dylan signing new exciting international talent for his labels, releasing the Technical Freaks Album in late May, producing more sickness himself, and of course DJing solidly all over the World. PHEW!! Always the one to watch out for, Dylan continues to produce an onslaught of discoteque destroyers for your listening pleasure'.