Rae & Christian

Acclaimed for their original production and downright beloved for their remix work, the duo of Mark Rae and Steve Christian have, in only a few short years, left an indelible mark on the world of great music. Not only have they helped to re-establish Manchester as a hotbed of creativity through their essential Grand Central label, but Rae & Christian have brought British hip-hop and soul production to the international fore. Their debut album, 1998's "Northern Sulphuric Soul," was the record that launched the careers of dozens of beat-crazy British producers hoping to follow Rae & Christian into the spotlight. Next came a slew of high-profile remixes for the likes of Madonna and Moby which cemented their place at the tops of sought-after remixer lists worldwide.

After years in the studio, Rae & Christian then took their brand of soulful hip-hop and lush production on the road with a live band. Embracing the sounds of live instrumentation, the duo brought the classy, sophisticated aesthetic of their touring band into the studio for their sophomore release, the critically-celebrated "Sleepwalking." A brilliant blend of hip-hop production and elegant vocals from the likes of Tania Maria, Cedric Myton of the Congos, and soul legend Bobby Womack, "Sleepwalking" moved Rae & Christian beyond the frontiers of hip-hop, injecting massive doses of downtempo grooves, live instrumentation, and mature songwriting. Now England's best-loved and category-resistant hip-hop fanatics are back with "Nocturnal Activity," an album which finds the infamous remixers receiving a taste of their own musical medicine from the likes of Faze Action, Groove Armada, Nextmen, Atjazz, Tom and Joyce, and many more. Sliced, diced, and utterly reworked, the remixes of signature tunes "Hold Us Down, "It Ain't Nothing Like," and "Not Just Anybody" sound completely fresh while retaining the trademark feel of Rae & Christian's originals.

Rae & Christian emerged in the late '90s as a successor to the many stellar British production teams of the '90s, updating the rich urban grooves of Soul II Soul and Massive Attack with a bit more emphasis on classic hip-hop. The duo of Mark Rae and Steve Christian, often helped out by vocalist Veba, began recording together in 1995. Grand Central Records released several of their collaborative singles -- as well as a few solo singles by Rae -- beginning in 1996. The duo's debut album, Northern Sulphuric Soul, was released in late 1998. Sleepwalking followed three years later. The duo hooked up with Kinetic in late 2001 to mastermind the hypnotic collection Anotherlatenight for Rae & Christian's chill out favorites like Riton, Dubble D, Capoeira Twins and more. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide