Technique Recordings grew out of the Derby club night where Drumsound & Bassline Smith began working together. Rather than revive Smith’s Absolute 2 imprint, they started a shared label, taking its name from the night. Their first Technique record arrived as Future Tech in 1999.
The partnership brought different generations of experience together. Smith had run Absolute 2 and came from a background in hip-hop, soul, and early dance music; the Drumsound crew brought their own studio ideas and a newer drum and bass perspective. Their early releases were made within that group, combining a dancefloor focus with musical and old-school touches.
The founders’ productions have remained part of the catalogue, including the Shine EP and an album of exclusive studio material released on USB for Technique’s 25th anniversary. Alongside their own music, the label has released Tantrum Desire, Smooth, and Zombie Cats. Tantrum Desire’s Forget It / Killerz sits among those artist projects, while Lost in This and Never Had a Reason bring Smooth and Zombie Cats together. Technique Annual 2025 collects music from across the roster, continuing the label’s releases beyond the partnership that started it.
