Source Direct - A Made Up Sound (Metalheadz, 1995)
Source Direct were the duo of Phil Aslett and Jim Baker and they produced abstract, technically precise drum'n'bass that was amongst the finest of the genre. Like myself they are from St. Albans in Hertfordshire and the first time I heard them was on a free cassette showcasing the Metalheadz label that came with the May 1996 issue of Muzik Magazine. When I started buying records seriously later that year I immediately sought out their releases, beginning with 'A Made Up Sound', which appeared on that tape and was also included on the Platinum Breakz compilation.
The track has a dark film noir vibe and begins with a minor key rhodes sample before introducing its most striking feature, a masterfully cut-up 'Apache' break. This is joined by a secondary 'Think' break along with a mostly indecipherable vocal sample (Play that song... ??????) and an 808 bassline, occasionally accompanied by echoed guitar licks and strange noises. Midway through the track is given some warmth thanks to another rhodes sample before it reverts back to its more disconcerting beginning. Probably my favourite track in their discography and presumably the inspiration for the techno/dubstep producer Dave Huismans' A Made Up Sound alias.
Check out this unintentionally hilarious interview from 1996 featuring Jim and Phil driving around the Hertfordshire countryside in their identical BMW M3s which they apparently blew their entire album advance on. Joy O samples a part of this interview for the vocal on 'Ellipsis' (check at around 1:29).
UPDATE 22/05/2020: I recently uncovered the original sample source for the vocal on this tune. It's from 'Workhouse Blues' by Mattie May Thomas. Source Direct sample the spoken intro that goes:
"A made up song, just about being in prison, alone"
The song was recorded in the sewing room of Mississippi State Penitentiary on 31st May 1939. Mattie May Thomas was serving a life sentence for murder but was pardoned by the governor in 1956 and released. The recordist was Herbert Halpert, an anthropologist who specialised in the collection of folk songs. The song is in the Library of Congress and was included on the 1987 collection Jailhouse Blues.
Jim & Phil may have actually sampled this from Freak Power's 'At Your Own Pace' which appeared on the In Dub - The Fried Funk Food EP in 1994 and samples 'Workhouse Blues' more extensively. That particular portion appears clean right at the end of the track. Freak Power are best remembered for 'Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out' and were produced by Norman Cook AKA Fatboy Slim.
'Workhouse Blues' is included in a Spotify playlist I made of tracks sampled on Metalheadz tunes. Check it below: