Podcast 137: Ben UFO

• Words: Shawn Reynaldo
• Photo: Jane Brodie

The world of electronic music is filled with quirks, but one of the most confusing is the fact that so many DJs only get attention if they also produce tracks. If someone has banged out a quality tune or two—and in some cases, the "quality" requirement is optional—they can quickly find themselves DJing around the globe, regardless of whether or not they are actually any good behind the decks. On the flip side, there are amazing DJs whose talents go unnoticed simply because they've never slapped their name on a song or remix. For a genre where clubs and parties take center stage, it seems like the system has been flipped on its head. Nevertheless, a select few still manage to break through based solely on their DJ skills. That group includes young Ben UFO (a.k.a. Ben Thomson), co-founder of the London-based Hessle Audio label. His top-notch DJ sets, usually combining the freshest funky, garage, and 2-step sounds with a choice selection of classic dubstep, house, and techno, have been blowing minds for a while now, so we are ecstatic to have him curate this edition of the XLR8R podcast.

01 Mad Mike feat. Davina "Don't You Want It" (Happy)
02 Cassy "Endless Endeavour" (Cassy)
03 Afefe Iku "Body Drummin" (Yoruba)
04 Untold "Anaconda (Guarachero Refix)"
05 A Made Up Sound "Alarm" (A Made Up Sound)
06 Funkystepz feat. Lily McKenzie "For U"
07 West Norwood Cassette Library "Blonde on Blonde"
08 Logic "Blues For You (Hard Dub)" (Strictly Rhythm)
09 Unknown "Blue"
10 Kathy Brown "I Appreciate (52 Leagues of Swing Mix)" (Cutting)
11 Mosca "Square One (VIP)"
12 Martin Kemp "Fix" (Blunted Robots)
13 Aaron Carl "Wallshaker" (Millions of Moments)
14 Commix "How You Gonna Feel (Pangaea Remix)"
15 Indo "R U Sleeping? (Bump and Flex vocal Mix)" (Satellite)
16 Blackstreet "Need a Fix (Jeremy Sylvester Remix)" (white)
17 Unknown "Untitled"
18 Biter "Hype Trak"
19 Wizzbit "Jamnite" (Slimzos)
20 Peverelist and Hyetal "RRR"
21 Dom Perignon and Dynamite "Together" (Mos Wanted)
22 Blackout "SOS"
23 Ramadanman "Bass Drumz"
24 Digital Mystikz "Ugly" (Big Apple)
25 Chris Mack "Gal A Call Me Phone (Militant Vocal Mix)" (Ultimate Beats)
26 Blawan "Iddy" (Hessle Audio)
27 Outkast "Ms. Jackson (Harmonimix)"
28 Mondie "Shower" (white)
29 J Sweet "Gutter (Alias Remix)" (Sweet Beatz)
30 Shystie feat. Crazy Titch and J2K "Make It Easy (Davinche Remix)" (Network)
31 Joe "Level Crossing" (Hessle Audio)
32 James Blake "Libra"