Rookie label Night Slugs has had one hell of a year, accomplishing what most labels hope to achieve in a lifespan in its infancy. Surely the greatest compliment to lay on the label overseen by Alex Bok Bok Sushon and James L-Vis 1990 Connolly is that a standard of quality has been maintained in every single release this year that fully justifies that hype. All Stars Vol. 1 is a highlight reel of what has made Night Slugs so groundbreaking, containing 13 tracks that showcase the label's mutated UK funky, grime and post-dubstep mA-lange of sound. This much is evident from the opening gambit, Mosca's "Square One (VIP)" which incorporates Baltimore club breaks, ragga-ish vocal sampling and some grimey synth squiggles without ever sounding crowded and over the top. An integral part of the Night Slugs success story has been the willingness to gather up some of North America's best and most forward thinking producers such as Brooklyn's Kingdom, who lends a Ballroom Diva inspired take on Dutch Bubblin' in his contribution "Bust Broke". Toronto's Egyptrixx premieres a track taken from his upcoming Bible Eyes LP in "Liberation Front", while Montreal producer Jacques Greene delivers a highlight amongst highlights with his much vaunted track "(Baby I Don't Know) What You Want" - an utterly delicious amalgamation of sultry R&B and twilight house full of analogue synth warmth. It's fitting that proceedings should end on "Wut", proclaimed by so many as the definitive track of 2010, with an overwhelming sense of anticipation for what Night Slugs might achieve next year as the track's lazered radiance peaks.
