Had a listen to Steve Bugs new stuff out on Poker Flat soon. Opinion: quite deep and loads of dramatic tunes, a nice arrangement of old-fashioned and new elements, all adding up to a very well compiled composition. Well done, Steve Bug!

PFRDD23
Digital album
01 July 2013 on Poker Flat Recordings

10 short years ago, a series of mysterious 12inch bomb-grade jack tracks began. Released under the moniker Traffic Signs, the re- leases appeared yearly from 2003 with very little hype or fuss – but went on to smash up dancefloors across the world in the hands of in-the-know DJs.

Eventually it slipped out that the tracks were the work of Poker Flat head Steve Bug – a conduit for playful, upfront house with a tongue in cheek attitude. Now the cat is well and truly out of the bag, Poker Flat have graciously complied this stunning collection of all the Traffic Sign releases – with the cherry on top being one devastating lost track and an exclusive re-edit of a classic.

‘I Like Your Booty’ and ‘The Big Fake’ originally kicked off the series, and still sound massive today – rough and raw rhythms that have proved their worth over the years, and still remain in many discerning DJ’s boxes.

Also here is the mighty, mind-scrambling ‘VCM Nation’, and its original flip side ‘Work Yeah’. Both remain as prime an example of how to jack a dancefloor to within an inch of its collective life as you are likely to come across.

‘Been in Glue’ from 2005 pursues a more minimal funk route, highly charged and restless house music that will worm its way into your brain, as will the cheekily named ‘Back on Crack’’s narcotic charms.

‘Noize Alarm’ is the exclusive lost track here – and what a treat it is. Mr Bug switches easily back into his Traffic Signs persona to produce yet another driving, hypnotic workout for the mind and body – its sly nod to French Kiss proving this is an alter ego the label boss can really have some fun with. This one will blow up big, mark our words.

Elsewhere, Marc Ashken’s previously unreleased re-edit of ‘I Like Your Booty’ is another one for the collectors – stripped down ass- shaking electronic funk that serves as a perfect companion piece to the remix he conducted with DJ T – also included here.

Partly remastered where needed, Steve Bug presents Traffic Signs marks a welcome return for this project – and the perfect chance for those that might have missed them the first time round to pick up some true underground classics.

Tracklist
01. VCM Nation
02. I Like Your Booty
03. Noize Alarm **
04. Back On Crack
05. Hold It
06. Coming Down
07. The Big Fake
08. Work Yeah
09. Been In Glue
10. Infiltrate
11. I Like Your Booty (Marc Ashken Re-edit) **
12. I Like Your Booty (Marc Ashken & DJ T Re-edit) ** unreleased, lost tracks