Digital Beats was Shanty and Tazz's legendary trancecore and freeform label which released eleven unique and highly regarded vinyl releases in 1998 and 1999. Digital Beats was formed in early 1998 as Alphamagic, who distributed all Digital Beats releases, had recently stopped distributing Sharkey's original Bonkers label and had no trancecore label on its roster as all other labels were distributed by SRD or Fuse Distribution. Shanty and Tazz had written a number of compositions with Loopy at UFO's RSR studio and were simply lucky to be in the right place at the right time as Alphamagic offered to press and distribute a label for their music, so Digital Beats was born!

Digital Beats was unique because it's music output was so varied due to the number of different artists and engineers that produced the music the label released. Some of the biggest compositions released on Digital Beats are Shanty, Tazz & Loopy's 'Outbreak' and 'Maximum', Menace 2 Society 'Cougar's Bass', Tazz & Loopy 'Life Support', DSU 'The Dawn' and 'Interference', Shanty 'Innocence Lost', Tazz & Element 'Enslave The People', Shanty & Vinyl-E 'Warring Factions' and Tazz & Loopy 'The Limit'.

The full Digital Beats artist roster includes Shanty, Tazz, Loopy, Menace 2 Society, Devorty, Diamond, Outrageous, DSU, Element, Vinyl-E, Penguin Conspiracy and Distressed Frequencies, with compositions engineered by many highly regarded artists in their own right including UFO, Trixxy, Chris Hampshire and Jon Doe / CLSM! Digital Beats closed in 1999 due to distribution issues, but the label reformed under a slightly new guise as Digital Beatz in 2002!

All Digital Beats releases were pressed as limited edition vinyl editions and are out of print. The entire Digital Beats catalogue was released on CD and digital download on Electronica Exposed on:

-> EECD004 - Digital Beats - The Complete Works

A. Shanty, Tazz & Loopy 'Outbreak'
B. Shanty, Tazz & Loopy 'Maximum'

Written by Richard Andrews, Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Produced by Richard Andrews, Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Engineered by Jason Holloway [UFO]. Recorded at RSR, Southampton. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Menace 2 Society 'Cougar's Bass'
B. Menace 2 Society 'Nothing Ends'

Written by Richard Andrews, Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Produced by Richard Andrews, Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Engineered by Jim Sullivan. Recorded at Happy House, Portsmouth. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Devorty & Diamond 'Break Thru'
B. Devorty & Diamond 'Digital Nights'

Written by Tom Devorty and Harry Diamond Jr. Produced by Tom Devorty and Harry Diamond Jr. Engineered by Chris Hampshire. Recorded at Interflow Sounds, Brighton. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Tazz & Loopy 'Life Support'
B. Shanty & Outrageous 'Virtual Existence'

10.1998 - Review By Brisk In M8 Magazine
"Changing the style now as we check the latest rumblings from the Digital Beats crew as number four in their catalogue waltzes in and takes no prisoners! Tazz & Loopy showcase their fierce hard trance style as 'Life Support' rears its head and proceeds to rip the dancefloor apart. The beeps from a life support machine are used as a rhythmical element amidst the ultra heavy drums and stabs. Swept mentasm and hoovers then take over before some seriously dark 303 work kicks as a prelude to a humungous and atmospheric breakdown that is certain to send eyeballs firmly to the back of their sockets, if you know what I mean! This is a menacing, yet very uplifting, hard trancer that just kicks! Meanwhile, on the flip, Shanty & Outrageous get busy with 'Virtual Existence', another melodic hard trancer that isn't quite as intense as 'Life Support', but is certainly as lethal. I won't go on at length with this one except to say that both sides are pure class and with Trixxy at the helm on the production tip, you know what to expect. A must for the hard trance/trancecore fan."

A. Written by Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Produced by Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Engineered by Jim Sullivan. Recorded at Happy House, Portsmouth. Published by Dance 2 Music. B. Written by Richard Andrews and Kevin Shepherd. Produced by Richard Andrews and Kevin Shepherd. Engineered by Jim Sullivan. Recorded at Happy House, Portsmouth. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. DSU 'The Dawn'
B. DSU 'Interference'

01.1999 - Review By Damage In Dream UK Magazine
"One half of the infamous Menace & USD partnership delivers two riotous slabs of slashing acid trance. 'Interference' is totally energetic as infectious zappage delivers a monster breakdown to blow your head clean off. 'The Dawn' is even tougher and faster, balanced by a hardcore-ish piano riff in the middle to make it a definite in many a set. Nice one Wingy!"

11.1998 - Review By Brisk In M8 Magazine
"A label that is rapidly becoming a firm favourite from yours truly is Digital Beats, a first class hard trance label that has consistently matched quality with consistency. Release number 5 is no exception either as DSU step up for scrutiny with a corking AA-side entitled 'The Awakenings EP'. Both sides are chock full of aggressive beats, mesmerising analogue sequences, rolling arpeggios, layered acid workouts, euphoric interludes and huge snare build ups that kick the dancefloor to bits! Side B offers a marginally more intense journey, but believe me, both sides are most definitely high on the Richter scale, causing mass destruction whenever dropped. If hard trance/trancecore is your bag, then these should be in your collection. No question. When's the next one? M6/M8."

Written by Paul Wingfield. Produced by Paul Wingfield. Engineered by Paul Wingfield. Recorded at Beat House. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Shanty 'Innocence Lost'
B. Shanty 'Linear Inequality'

Written by Richard Andrews. Produced by Richard Andrews. Engineered by John Pitts [Jon Doe]. Recorded at No Trix II, London. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Tazz & Element 'Enslave The People'
B. Tazz & Element 'Enslave The People'

Written by Daniel Taylor and Kevin Shepherd. Produced by Daniel Taylor and Kevin Shepherd. Engineered by Jim Sullivan. Recorded at Happy House, Portsmouth. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Shanty & Vinyl-E 'Warring Factions'
B. Penguin Conspiracy 'Welcome To The Future'

A. Written by Richard Andrews and Fergus Walker. Produced by Richard Andrews and Fergus Walker. Engineered by Jason Holloway [UFO]. Recorded at RSR, Southampton. Published by Dance 2 Music. Licensed from Shantytown Recordings Ltd. © 2000 Shantytown Recordings Ltd. B. Written by Richard Andrews, Paul Girdler and John Pitts. Produced by Richard Andrews, Paul Girdler and John Pitts. Engineered by John Pitts [Jon Doe]. Recorded at No Trix II, London. Published by Interflow Sounds Music / Paul Rodriguez Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Shanty & Distressed Frequencies 'Forward Motion (Moving At 170 Mix)'
B. Shanty & Distressed Frequencies 'Forward Motion (Moving At 160 Mix)'

Written by Richard Andrews and Harry Diamond Jr. Produced by Richard Andrews and Harry Diamond Jr. Engineered by Chris Hampshire. Recorded at Interflow Sounds, Brighton. Published by Interflow Sounds Music / Copyright Control. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Tazz & Loopy 'The Limit'
B. Tazz & Loopy 'Martian Winds (Psycho Martian)'

Written by Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Produced by Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Engineered by Jim Sullivan. Recorded at Happy House, Portsmouth. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm

A. Shanty, Tazz & Loopy 'Outbreak (Tazz Remix)'
B. Menace 2 Society 'Cougar's Bass (Shantytown Remix)'

A. Written by Richard Andrews, Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Produced by Richard Andrews, Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Engineered by Jason Holloway [UFO]. Remix and additional production by Daniel Taylor. Remix engineered by John Pitts [Jon Doe]. Recorded at No Trix II, London. Published by Dance 2 Music. B. Written by Richard Andrews, Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Produced by Richard Andrews, Daniel Taylor and Luciano Taiani. Engineered by Jim Sullivan. Remix and additional production by Richard Andrews. Remix engineered by John Pitts [Jon Doe]. Recorded at No Trix II, London. Published by Dance 2 Music. Executive production by Richard Andrews and Daniel Taylor. Mastered by Shane McEnhill at Heathmans Mastering. Artwork by Unseen Projects.

Packaged In A Digital Beats 12" Disco Bag | 305mm x 309mm x 2mm | 170g | 45rpm