Where do you start with Leeds-born Ibiza based producer George Evelyn, the man from N.O.W that pioneered British electronic music? Well for those already hip to his world the following will serve as a timely reminder. For new arrivals it’ll provide a crucial guide to a musical ride that ends with ‘Shout Out! To Freedom.’

As Warp Records longest serving signing N.O.W opened doors to new sonic landscapes for countless producers and musicians. Via his father and juxtaposed with soca from the islands, young George’s imagination was captured by the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Sarah Vaughan and Quincy Jones. In his early teens, inner city bass heavy reggae sound systems would also make their mark. But it was the arrival of hip-hop in the UK, complete with its loop, sample, cut ‘n’ paste aesthetic that would provide the icing on the cake and a way forward. George alongside then writing partner Kevin Harper made his first contribution to the sonic continuum with two defining singles of the emerging rave scene, 1989’s ‘Dexterous’ and 1990’s ‘Aftermath.’ This was closely followed by N.O.W’s 1991 debut album ‘A Word of Science: The First and Final Chapter’ for which George parked his techno sensibilities and mixed in more hip hop with a down tempo vibe. Its combination of loops and sample driven dubbed out funk, soul and hip hop would really establish the sound of N.O.W. 1995’s ‘Smokers Delight’ saw this downtempo vibe taken to a whole other level. Essentially designed to kick back and relax it pioneered what would become known as ‘chill.’ To bookend the nineties came 1999’s ‘Carboot Soul,’ the third chapter in a series of albums that for those of a certain persuasion perfectly captured the spirit of the decade — and you don’t stop…