Sampler 2

It would be fair to say that Lee Coombs is more seasoned than a salt and pepper sandwich. He has presided over many a dance floor for the last 12 years beginning his DJ career in 1989 at acid house parties in London and Cambridge and soon becoming the resident at the now fabled Eclipse raves.

A natural progression from decks to the studio led to releases under several monikers such as The Invisible Men and The Frog Junkies as well as establishing imprints to release his own work... more DIY than a 'WorkMate'. Fast forward to the summer of 2001 and Lee Coombs is a man enjoying a season in the sun with the likes of Tong caning "The Future Sound of Retro" 12" and Seb Fontaine declaring that he is the DJ that everyone is talking about at the moment.

Even a quick 'once over' of the latest release from the Finger Lickin' stable and it's easy to understand the current groundswell; 11 tracks of acid tinged, bass driven breakbeats mixed seamlessly across 60 minutes provide an excellent showcase from an artist who is clearly reaching a creative peak.

The title track "Future Sound Of.." is a revving bass monster that lies somewhere between the home grounds of the Chemical Brothers and The Crystal Method whilst the tech-beat "Dance To The House" is a classic in the making, perhaps it is this self assurance in the quality of his own work that has led Mr Coombs to title this album in such a way. The inclusion of Sister Bliss's "Deliver Me" and Quivver's "One Last Time" are a definite attraction rather than a distraction and give context to and complement the overall aim of this project. Look forward to looking back on this record and remembering just how good the summer of 2001 really was. Phat enough to fry your chips in.