Calibre

As he releases his debut Fabriclive mix, the drum and bass don picks his all-time favourites, from UB40 to Brian Eno.

What’s the first record you ever bought?

I think it was UB40 Signing Off. I was really into ska and reggae-influenced sounds in the 80s. I like the way they had songs that weren’t just about love. My dad took me to see UB40 and Madness around that time. He tried to put me on his shoulders, I said no…

The first time you remember hearing electronic music?

I don’t know if it’s really applicable as electronic music but I remember listening to Radio Luxembourg late one night as a child, and this song came on called ‘O Superman’ by Laurie Anderson. I found it very moving. It was also clear to me that this was something different, that anything was possible. Imagine hearing that now on daytime radio.

The guaranteed floor-filler?

If it’s one of my own then it could be a few but I’ll go for the track ‘Even If…’, taken from my 2010 album of the same name. I also still play the Jaheim remix I did years ago to great effect.

The soundtrack to a lazy Sunday afternoon?

Chilly Gonzales’s Solo Piano reminds me of a modern take on Erik Satie, minimal beauty served up in short doses. I don’t think he realised how good this was when he did it, easy in any state.