Laurence and Andy met in 1993 through their involvement Dj'ing with the legendary UK free party crew - Smokescreen sound system.. The crew of eight in total threw free, large-scale events at various locations across the English countryside. Utilizing rotating, secret venues, Smokescreen attempted to keep their renegade parties as underground as possible to avoid detection by local police - a feat they managed to accomplish on a regular basis. They also organized more legitimate events, such as nights in local clubs.
By 1998, Ritchie moved to Nottingham with what little studio kit he'd had in Sheffield, joined the To ka Project studio and began to put together the drop label whilst producing closely with Riley, who was already involved with To ka Project, his collaboration with Steve Walker and Jason Cowley. Inland knights Volume 1 marked the launch of Drop Music in 1998; an independent outlet devoted to the production of quality house. The flourishing label has released material under various mediums, including EPs, singles, album and mix CDs.
The Drop Music catalogue now has 56 releases to its credit, and is renowned in the dance music community for the quality and consistency of its work. Adopting various guises to showcase different aspects of their sound, including Party Criminals, In House Alterations, Grand Theft Audio and Big Audio Spidermite, Toka project, Larry fives, Inland Knights have been responsible for most of the Drop catalogue. As enthusiastic about DJ'ing as studio production Ritchie and Riley have maintained a relentless international touring agenda since their collaboration began.
Under the Inland Knights moniker the pair have been fruitful, releasing tracks on labels such as Ralph Lawson's famed 20:20 Vision imprint, Panhandle Records, Vista, Siesta, Sunflower, NRK, Low Pressings, the classic 'hot soup' on so-sound, cheeky, doubledown and many more. "Creative Spaces," Inland Knights and Drop Music's highly anticipated first full-length album, was released in 2001 to widespread critical praise for its funky jams and deep, grooving melodies. For the CD version of the album, the pair opted to create a live mix rather than simply re-releasing the vinyl in another medium.
Into 2008 , Inland knights are busy in the studio with remixes, ep's and compilations, as well as regular dj slots at the weekends.To mark the 50th Dropmusic release, Inland Knights released a two part ep package to widespread acclaim, with 50 pt 1 becoming an instant rarity and much sought after, and part 2 Been a drop classic. Into 2008 and DROP MUSIC will be 10 years old so to celebrate this there will be a double cd compilation with all the artists off the label putting forward new tracks.
Despite their success as producers, and over nine years of releases under their belts, they refuse to withdraw into the studio and will continue to DJ and tour extensively. Riley notes they are always looking to balance their performance and production schedules. "If you start to do too much of one," he says, "You start to miss the other."
1. BREATH YOU IN - Juan de la Madre mix - OM
2. SO REAL - Troydon - Phonoshuffle
3. FALL OFF THE WALL - Exit Only Mix - Unreleased
4. BELIEVE IN ME - Alexander East (LCG mix) - Nordic
5. LAZY DAYS - Nathan Stewart - Soulfuel Records
6. EASILY INFLUENCED - Straight from the Hawt EP - Guesthouse
7. DONT YOU WANT MORE - Duck Beats - Odori
8. BUMPIN ENJOYMENT - Sound Eepublic (Jason Hodges Readin Minds Mix) -
Spatulacity
9. YOU DON'T LET ME - Replay5
10. HAPPENING NOW - Inland Knights Dub - Myna Music
| Records | |
| Title | Label |
|
Pre-release Promo |
Procreation |
| In House Alterations | Drop Music |
| Vol. 1 | Drop Music |
| Crazy EP | Panhandle Records |
| Fresh Connections | 20:20 Vision |
| New Century Swings | Drop Music |
| Party Criminals | Drop Music |
| Put It Back | Drop Music |
| Creative Spaces | Drop Music |
| Got The Strength | 20:20 Vision |
| Grand Theft Audio | Drop Music |
| Northern Soil | Drop Music |
| Out Of Bounds | Drop Music |
| Sound Extensions | Drop Music |
| The Shadey Shuffles EP | Siesta Music |
| Vacant Obsessions | Drop Music |
| 17 Days / Revolver | Procreation |
| Kept Secret | 20:20 Vision |
| Sound In Mind | Drop Music |
| Steal The Feel | Drop Music |
| Understanding EP | Vista Recordings |
| 17 Days (Remixes) | Procreation |
| Beat Loaf | Drop Music |
| Blown Out | Doubledown Recordings |
| Mud Substance | Drop Music |
| Back Stage | Drop Music |
| Hot Soup E.P. | So Sound Recordings |
| New Static | Drop Music |
| Six Of The Best | Drop Music |
| What To Think | Drop Music |
| A Part Of Me | Drop Music |
| Double Check | Drop Music |
| Hands Up EP | Amenti Music |
| Hollow Legs | Drop Music |
| Stitch Up | Drop Music |
| This Belongs To You | Drop Music |
| Beggar's Belief | Drop Music |
| Full Moon | Drop Music |
| Part One | Drop Music |
| Part Two | Drop Music |
| Road Trip EP | Drop Music |
| Rough Diamond EP | Drop Music |
| Ghetto Shit | Amenti Music |
| High Rise EP | Raise Recordings |
| Side Effect EP | Raise Recordings |
| Remixes | ||
| Artist | Title | Label |
| Mirage | Everybody Dance | Ink Records |
| Spinning Marcus | Spectrum Is Green | Phood Records |
|
Da Sunlounge |
Da Sunlounge (Part 2) | Low Pressings |
| Future Signs | Swirl People | Tronicsole |
| Digs, Woosh & Mr Ski | Rumpfunk | DiY Discs |
| Twisted Pair | Horny Hustle (Remixes) | NRK Sound Division |
| Faithless | Muhammad Ali | Cheeky Records |
| Swirl People | Remixed Bits | Aroma |
| Floris | Shake It | Sunflower Records |
| Joshua | Watch Da Bass | NRK Sound Division |
| Additives & Preservatives | Fly | Index Records (UK) |
| The Dolphins | House Panic | Hooj Choons |
| Da Sunlounge | Northern Alliance EP | Tango Recordings |
| Colin Dale | You Know How (Remixes) | Sensei |
| Sound Navigators | Down On It | Blockhead Recordings |
| Kinky Movement | Gettin' There | Tango Recordings |
| Pete Dafeet | Head Trauma EP | Uniform Recordings |
| Magik Johnson | Rollergirl (Disc 2) | NRK Sound Division |
| Littlemen, The | Stoned | Mobile Trax |
| The Sound Republic & J.Todd | Imaginary Lover | SpatulaCity |
