Microsolutions to Megaproblems (Soul Jazz). Short lived offshoot of the ubiquitous Soul Jazz Records of London’s Soho. Steered by Jonathan Burnip - now making wonderful, functional dance under the name Capracara - this label focussed on artists that had their own language and very individualistic take on electronic music.

Secondo’s acid coda on ‘We Got it 303’ is “so stiff, its funky”. Rekid’s slow-house jam on ‘Tranzit’ is weighed down with New York grit. Andy Greenman’s ‘Discothique’ and ‘Sunday Kind of Love’ are both exemplary exercises in lambent house. Kid606 eases off the (now tedious sounding) gabba pedal to deliver some pleasant bouncy 4/4 and Tim Exile totally steals it with the highly strung funk of ‘Body Ginger’.

I didn't take a shine to everything on here; I could easily live without Sutekh’s clattering contributions or Ammon Contact’s slightly stodgy Ninja Tune vibe. Overall though, whilst I felt these tracks had more character and context on the 12” format, this still worked as a compilation.

Mealtime (Planet Mu / Virgin). Whilst it introduced us to the (on the whole) press-made genre of “drill’n bass”, this gathering of oddball electronica is still heaps of fun. The movement might not have been around for long, but that’s because its practitioners are accomplished enough to break away from genre constraints put upon them.

The bestest tracks are the ones early on; opening with the stunning splinter maelstrom of ‘D.M.C.’ by Jega. Where amen breaks and shards of DSP are hurled high velocity at some helpless MC....violent but enjoyable! Plaid turn in a stunning jazz cut-up with a remix of Red Snapper: double-bass and twangy guitar intertwined with stop-start rhythms. Wafta needs no introduction and his ‘Morpeth Issot’ is a landmark in post-pub electronic entertainment!

Mike Paradinas’ remix of ‘Eternally’ by Point Blank is just astonishing; breakbeat / bass nirvana. AFX wins out though with the instant classic ‘Bummy’ where violin string leads and live sounding drums are coaxed into a track has woozy and pleasing shifts in tempo.