Since its launch in 2004 by Dub Pistols honcho Barry Ashworth and veteran dance journo Carl Loben, Westway Records has stood tall like a high-rise amidst the bombastic breaks deluge. The name comes from The Clash, as does Barry’s Dogtown Clash side project whose ‘West London’s Burning’ further cements the connection, although the horns are straight out of a Specials ska-lift. The music often transcends rigid beats to bring in elements like Funkadelic [on Italian titan Madox’s tune of the same name], reggae and punk attitude, epitomised by the Velour Brothers’ ‘Punk Rock’. The traffic coming off Westway has been sparing and caring over its three years’ existence. Having now reached a dozen releases, Barry and Carl, who also trades as Drum Monkeys, mixed together this retrospective of label highlights like the latter’s roof-raising ‘Batty Batacuda’. Other artists include Moriarty, Boogie Army, D*Funk while Dogtown Clash also get treated to a Groove Diggerz mix of ‘Dirty Dawn’ before Klaus ‘Heavyweight’ Hill steams in on the Monkeys’ ‘Electro Ladyland. There’s also a bonus unmixed CD. As Joe Strummer once sang, I can’t think of a better way to spend the night.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: KRIS NEEDS