Mark Radford Selects 10 Defining Cuts from the Audio Rehab Catalogue Ahead of XOYO Birmingham
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Mark Radford steps into XOYO Birmingham this weekend for Pandora, and it feels like a moment worth pausing on. Not to look back for the sake of it. But to understand how things got here.
Audio Rehab has always sat in its own lane. Rooted in UK garage and house, but never stuck. The label has moved with the dancefloor. Pushed new artists. Held onto its identity while everything around it shifts.
With a lineup that includes DJAMMIN, Wookie and Kismet, this XOYO show puts that sound right back where it belongs. Loud. Physical. Surrounded by people who understand it. You can grab last-minute tickets here: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Birmingham/XOYO/Pandora---A-New-Era/42077280/
To mark the occasion, Mr Radford runs us through ten tracks from the catalogue that shaped the label’s journey. Records that built the foundation and still hold weight now.
Luke Larrell & Victor Reid - Serious People
This was the track that we launched the label with, and it still bangs as hard now as it ever did. Luke and Victor are actually the UK funky dons Crazy Cousins, and this was their first venture into the house world. It is fair to say they nailed it.
Carnao Beats - H.O.U.S.E
Taken from the debut EP from Carnao, this track set the tone for his unmistakable sound and instantly became a huge underground anthem.
Shea Burke - Lonely Travels
Featuring Shea’s own vocals, which he recorded whilst standing in his bath. Lonely Travels was an instant classic. The haunting vocal and huge bassline have defined a generation and stood the test of time.
Playtime Productions - Heading My Way
This track from the Playtime boys was another integral part of the sound we have built over the years. A strong original vocal, hypnotic synth chimes and a heavy bassline. It became a big record for us early on.
Low Steppa - Systems
The unmistakable chunky sound of Low Steppa pushed things in a slightly different direction from the slower deep tech vibe we were known for. Systems is a garage-leaning house hybrid that he has taken worldwide.
Nightshift - Made You Look (Hugo Massien Remix)
This pairing between two key Audio Rehab names landed hard. Nightshift’s original was already strong, but Hugo’s remix took it somewhere else. It worked everywhere we played it and still sounds ahead of its time.
Lance Morgan & Casey Spillman - Feeling I Want
This one balances the darker London sound with something more soulful. The bassline hits with intent, while the vocal and strings bring a different kind of emotion into the mix.
RS4 & Soulstar - Locked On
As the sound spread beyond London, we brought in Sheffield’s Oris Jay under his RS4 alias. Linking with Soulstar on vocals, this track became a strong example of deep underground house done properly.
Nightshift - Like A Flower
Nightshift has always been key to the sound. Tight drums, direct bass stabs, everything sitting exactly where it needs to. This track sums up a lot of what we stand for.
Nocturnal Joe - It’s Too Much
One of the newer names on the label. Nocturnal Joe brings a deeper, more dubbed-out approach with crisp drums and catchy hooks. This track shows where the next phase is heading.
There’s a clear thread running through all of them: bass-led, built for the dancefloor, and focused on feel over flash.
That’s exactly what you can expect at XOYO. No nostalgia set. No safe moments. Just a sound that’s been refined over the years, played the way it’s meant to be heard.
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