It’s seldom that the phrase - Jack of all trades - can stand tall on its own… but in relation to these two heroes of the South West - it genuinely stops there. And now we’re even seeing them fast-becoming scene-leading, Jacks of the dance-floor to boot; as since birthing their own Eton Messy Records imprint in 2015 - they’ve made some stealthy, but serious strides.

And here we see them return with their latest VA compilation; shining a proud light on a number of recent signings - whilst tantalisingly teeing us up for the Eton Messy Records assault on 2022.

EM Favourite The Golden Boy will be kickstarting the compilation, followed by Luke Fono, Karma Kid and Bondax will all be marking their debut release on the label which after all this time is hard to believe after all the shows they have played with the brand throughout the years.

Extended family members returning to the fray include Ray - who’s Hardcore-nodding ‘Set Me Free’ throbs with a palpable Warehouse heat; Cortese - who join forces with 2XM for another elegant, 2 Step-licked Houser; plus the label’s most scene-impacting signing to date - LEGATO; who envelops us in his trademark cloak of misty, widescreen finery once more.

But with their long-game cross-hairs firmly fixed on the future - and keeping their rapidly growing, ravenous fanbase on tender hooks - the release also features some very exciting new faces too.

First up, we have some names that are fresh to both label and scene; the likes of Simmerdown - who impress with the stuttering, Broken-Beat Soul of ‘Dilate’; Self Tape - who bring their sure-footed, bittersweet grooves to the party; and MJSB - who’s bold, stripped-to-the-core ‘Home’ - is an emphatic, percussive-led exercise in ‘less is more’.

The final piece in Ed Byass and Charlie Wedd’s passionately curated love-letter to their present and future EM faithful - comes via a fistful of piping hot artists, making serious waves in the scene as we speak. Lis Sarroca - one of the most charted underground producers of 2021, who brings a refined, next-level deepness to the fore; the radio smashing Apres - whose warm, Jazz-skimmed contribution does exactly what it says on the tin and transports us instantly to the ‘Poolside’ party of our dreams; plus - big hitters Karma Kid, Fono and - fittingly - the mighty Bondax… who are the perfect final LP addition - having thrown out the rule back, just as the EMR boys did a decade back - carving an unprecedented pathway of their own making, through a brave new, almost alien - Online world.

And after loading up on this latest offering from the Bristol-based Tastemakers - it’s kind of hard to imagine the Online world being the only one they’re kings of before too long.