Execute

The antithesis to Craig David and all his sweet wholesome boy-next door business, Oxide and Neutrino are two snotty street kids creating dark urban garage tracks with titles like ‘Up Middle Finger,’ ‘Don’t Give A Damn’ and ‘Devil’s Nightmare’.

‘Up Middle Finger’ and ‘Only Wanna Know You Cos U’re Famous’ are variations on the ‘Bound 4 Da Reload/Casualty’ theme with the plinking keyboards, lurching strings and bass set to maximum vibration. But there’s no denying the lads are trying to do something innovative on the sampling front – ‘Fighting Machine’, featuring Kaish, contains a Dirty Dozen-ish whistling marching tune and military drill samples, and ‘Devil’s Nightmare’ has some Omen-style Latin chorusing, although it’s not remotely as sinister as it’s trying to be. For all the pomp and circumstance, the minimal shut-up-and-dance tracks are the only ones that don’t really get old after a few listens and might stand the test of time in the clubs. Notable in this regard is the techno-trance-like ‘Foot 2 Da Floor’, the rapid ragga rap of ‘Setting The Pace’ and the two-step-cum-hard-house track, ‘Back 2 Da Floor,

Oxide and Neutrino are two very talented kids trying to make hard-faced, tough, angry music. In the end, it kinda just makes you go, "aw, isn’t that cute?" Not the reaction they were aiming for, I guess.