Alpha Omega

Goldie has occasionally returned to early moniker Rufige Kru for his more straightforward, underground drumnbass releases rather than his ambitious, multi-genre albums. Malice in Wonderland and Memoirs of an Afterlife appeared on his Metalheadz label during the late 2000s, and were pretty much only heard by his most faithful followers, though both contained some excellent tracks. As Metalheadz celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, Rufige Kru returned with third full-length Alpha Omega, co-produced by Goldie and James Davidson (Submotive). The same duo also works together as Subjective, but their albums explore house, downtempo, soul, and broken beat rather than strictly drumnbass. Alpha Omega touches on feelings and themes that have been present throughout his work, but keeps it grounded in club culture. "Goldikus," featuring Timeless contributor Cleveland Watkiss, is the most overt throwback to his monolithic debut album, recycling familiar vocals but adding a fresh, ground-quaking bassline. "Siamese Ghost" is Submotives update of Rufige Krus 1993 darkside classic "Ghosts of My Life," again streamlining it and appending a vicious bassline. The intense, driving "Secret Handshake" incorporates flashes of old-school rave synths and ragga MC chatter. "Virgil" is a heavy, choppy Amen break smasher, and easily one of the albums more instantly gratifying tracks. The lovely "Sandcastles" and the more spiritual "People and Places" are more atmospheric, yet still filled with busy, ever-shifting breakbeats. On "Still the Same," Brit Award-winning rapper CASISDEAD rhymes about staying true to himself and not letting success corrupt him. No doubt Goldie can relate, as he remains the global ambassador of drumnbass, yet hes never lost sight of the underground culture that inspired him to become a street artist, breakdancer, and DJ in the first place. Alpha Omega acknowledges Goldies past, but keeps things moving ever onward. ~ Paul Simpson

ドラムンベース界の重鎮=ゴールディーの別名義による16年ぶりのアルバムは小細工一切なしの完全フロア向け仕様。健在ぶりを誇示してみせた序盤の"Goldikus"や目下シーンで勢いのあるカシスデッドとがっぷり四つに組んだ先行カット"Still the Same"、壮大なスケールでお届けする"Secret Handshake"などなど、還暦目前とは思えぬ大充実の仕上がり。
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