Pay Close Attention: XL Recordings

Pay Close Attention documents and celebrates the key releases and moments from the 25 year history of London-based, independent record label XL Recordings.

Split into two parts, the compilation explores the (still growing) roots of XL: underground music made for DJs, and some of the unique talents whose albums XL has released to worldwide acclaim.

In the sleeve notes, XL owner Richard Russell writes:

"XL Recordings is a collaborative endeavour, and many people have contributed to its evolution. In the song 'Out Of Space', Liam Howlett of The Prodigy provided a blueprint when he sampled Kool Keith of Ultramagnetic MC's rapping these words: "Pay Close Attention". And whilst XL has never had any outside ownership, Gil Scott-Heron advised me not to even consider XL an "independent", because everything is connected.

Part 1 of this compilation are the roots of XL; underground music, made for DJs. These roots are still growing. Part 2 features some of the singular talents who have taken the label further than we ever envisioned. There is no unifying genre; hopefully the thread of originality is evident though.

The rave music XL first became known for was known as "hardcore"; that spirit continues."

Richard Russell, London, 2014