Chemist Mix For The Astral Plane

2013’s end-of-year list busting Coyote Records compilation, aptly titled Coyote Kings, rung many a bell through its vivacious, immediate take on grime. Bringing in a mixture of new and old artists, the south London label’s collection featured the likes of recent Astral Plane mixer OH91, old school Skepta running-mate P Jam and relative unknowns (at the time) Spare and Jon DeVille. In hindsight, Coyote Kings was something of a seminal listen for this particular listener, proving in bombastic fashion that contemporary grime can both shmang on a soundsystem level and offer forward-thinking melodic content. Of the Coyote stable of artists, no one epitomizes that coalition better than Chemist.

Like many of his contemporaries, Chemist doesn’t actually have an “official” release to his name yet, but that hasn’t stopped him from garnering plaudits from some of grime’s more esteemed outlets. The UK producer’s “Hoodrat” (his contribution to Coyote Kings) has been utilized as a focal point in many a DJ set, its drastic mutations between feather-pillow loftiness and slamming, percussive weight captivating casual listeners and DJs alike. Chemist’s productions are angular, hawkish and immersive, often fluctuating between aggressive detonations and string-led melodies that are equal parts affecting and chilling. Chemist sits perfectly in the grime continuum, he often draws samples from video games like Metal Gear Solid, but his output also retains a certain tenderness that belies his propinquity for percussive machinations. This Summer, Chemist will release his debut “Defiance” single on Coyote Records, his first “official” record, albeit one that has already made its way into the Rinse rotation. Chemist’s Astral Plane mix brings the sort of gun finger waving attitude that we’ve come to expect from Coyote artists and we couldn’t be more excited to indulge in its madness. New and unreleased tunes from Rabit, Dark0 and Kakarot shine, while “Defiance” comes towards the end and rounds the mix off with aplomb. Enjoy. Track list after the jump.

MGS – Intro

Rabit – Bloody Eye

Chemist – Fall Back

Chemist – WW4 Bootleg

Dot Rotten – Rowdy Riddim

Kakarot – Port Harcourt (Shriekin’ Specialist Orchestral Mix)

Chemist – Blocks

OH91 – Stealth

Dot Rotten – Speaking Rude (Chemist Mix)

OH91 – Railcard

Tom E. Vercetti – Fugitive

Mssingno – 124th

Dark0 – Bora VIP

Breen – Bridge

Lovedr0id – No Sushi Beat

Hi5ghost – Teflon

Chemist – Shivas Legion

OH91 – Xtra91

Bushido Brown – Leave It Out (Loop)

Chemist – Defiance

JT The Goon – Ice Pick

Kakarot – Victoria Island