XL Recordings to release compilation, “Pay Close Attention”

The label that helped spearhead Hardcore in the 90’s and later provide a home for artists like The XX, Basement Jaxx & Adele is to celebrate its silver anniversary with a new compilation.

“Pay Close Attention” celebrates 25 years of the label’s history and will feature many of the big name artists and tracks that helped shape the legend. The album gets its name from the Kool Keith quote that featured in The Prodigy’s smash hit, “Out Of Space.” Founder Richard Russell believes that it’s a line that set the foundations for the label.

Part 1 of the compilation will focus on the label’s roots, underground music for the DJ’s, Part 2 will focus on the talent that emerged from the label and helped push XL to new dimensions. The album will feature the likes of Wiley, Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, SBTRKT, Radiohead and many more, it will be available as a 4 part LP, CD and on Digital formats. 

“Pay Close Attention” will be released 25th August, but for those who can’t wait, there is an interactive website that contains previously unreleased videos and images from the label’s history.

Tracklist:

Disc 1

1. SL2, “DJs Take Control”
2. The Prodigy, “Out of Space”
3. Awesome 3, “Don’t Go (Kicks Like a Mule Mix)”
4. Liquid, “Sweet Harmony”
5. Jonny L, “Piper”
6. Roy Davis Jr. featuring Peven Everett, “Gabriel (Live Garage Version)”
7. Dem 2, “Destiny”
8. Nu-Birth, “Anytime”
9. Basement Jaxx, “Jump N’Shout”
10. Dizzee Rascal, “I Luv U”
11. Wiley, “Igloo”
12. Various Production, “Hater”
13. Giggs, “Talkin the Hardest”
14. SBTRKT, “Wildfire (featuring Little Dragon)”
15. Jamie xx, “All Under One Roof Raving”

Disc 2

1. The Prodigy, “Firestarter”
2. Peaches, “Fuck the Pain Away”
3. The White Stripes, “Seven Nation Army”
4. Devendra Banhart, “I Feel Just Like a Child”
5. Ratatat, “Seventeen Years”
6. M.I.A., “Paper Planes”
7. Thom Yorke, “The Eraser”
8. Gil Scott-Heron, “New York Is Killing Me”
9. Radiohead, “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”
10. Tyler, The Creator, “Yonkers”
11. The Horrors, “Sea Within A Sea”
12. Jai Paul, “BTSTU (demo)”
13. Bobby Womack, “Please Forgive My Heart”
14. The xx, “Angels”
15. Sampha, “Too Much”
16. Vampire “Weekend, Step”
17. King Krule, “Easy Easy”
18. Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

Written by Alex Lewis