Monster Mash

THE Nextmen have turned playing records into an artform.

Not just great DJs, Brad Baloo and Dom Search are turntable virtuosos. Indeed, the pair are not averse to taking a spin on four decks simultaneously.

“It involves a lot of communication, practice and knowing when to shut up,” says Brad, whose nickname – a reference to the large loveable bear from the Jungle Book – becomes understandable as soon as you meet him.

“You don’t want to pound people with all the turntables all the time. You have to use it as a device to move between different things. But being musicians, mixing is a natural thing. And, after 13 years together, you tend to get it right more times than wrong.

“Though occasionally we get horrified screams when we take a record off that’s still playing. Or Dom will walk away from the decks with his headphones still plugged in – and pull over the mixer.”

While their DJ sets have ripped up many a club and festival, they are at pains to point out that they are, of course, so much more.

And on being signed to produce their fourth studio album, they ditched the decks and picked up their instruments.

The result, with Brad on piano and percussion and Dom on guitar, is Join the Dots – a wholly groovesome affair featuring co-production from fellow former Cambridge resident Andy Cato of Groove Armada, Ms Dynamite (remember her), and long-term collaborator Dynamite MC.

It betrays a mash-up cross-pollination of styles, from electronic bassline-heavy dance, to reggae, skank and hip hop, to nu-folk.

“Most DJs are not very rock & roll,” he laughs, talking to The Guide while taking a break in his studio in North London’s Finsbury Park.

“But we can DJ all weekend and then get back to making music. Djing has always been our bread and butter with us starting as hip hop and moving into soul, funk and disco. As we’ve got older we’ve got more eclectic and cherry pick from different genres we like.”

The album’s release follows a summer of living it large. It seems the toast of London’s party scene, have become a global must-have commodity. Invites have rained in to perform in such unlikely locations as a man-made tropical beach in Singapore, a sunken indoor swimming pool in Elizabeth Taylor’s private villa in Cannes; a bunker in Moscow, a ski jump in Val D’Isere, a Sydney harbourside gathering and a party in Shanghai.

Of course, such exotic dates pale into insignificance tonight, (cough…) when they take to the stage at Oxford’s O2 Academy, headlining the club’s Nightmare Before Halloween night, alongside soul six-piece The Delegtors.

The Nextmen have come far since they first met, in their old school playground in Cambridge.

Brad Baloo (real name: Brad Ellis) and Dom (Dominic Betmead) joined forces when Brad attempted a remix for London Posse and realised he didn’t have any kit to do it. In stepped Dom with his Roland S10.

The year was 1996, the tune was called Style, and it put them on the map as hip hop producers, seeing them go on to work with Public Enemy, Blackalicious, The Pharcyde and Morcheeba So what next? Is there anything left for them to achieve? “In life?” asks Brad. “Finding the perfect cheese and pickle sandwich,” he grins. “You can never get a good one..”

And musically? “Oh yeah,” he laughs. “Well, there is a lot of exciting stuff going on. With lots of dubstep and drum and bass stuff coming out of Cambridge, which a lot of people might find surprising.

“Though, I know people in Oxford don’t want to hear that! You guys might have Radiohead, but we have good stuff too.

“Taste in music, ability and style are what people want to hear, and I believe quality shines through.”

The Nextmen play The Nightmare before Halloween at the Oxford O2 Academy tonight. Doors open at 11pm, and tickets are £8.

NOW SCARE UP SOME FUN: l Oww! He’s bad! The prince of pop may have moonwalked off this mortal coil, but Jacko’s memory is alive on the dance floor at Oxford clubnight Trashy.

This feast of all things poppy, fun and feel-good goes retro-ghoulish tomorrow with a Thriller 80s special at the O2 Academy.

And the theme continues downstairs with the Transformation indie night and Room 101 rock session. Don’t forget to make an effort by dressing to shock. Doors open at 10.30pm. Entry is £6 (£5) l Celebrate Halloween by getting bludgeoned with a big slice of metal as the Oxford O2 Academy kicks off the phantom-fest tomorrow night with Therapy?

Headliners Therapy? (No, there’s no query… the question mark is an attention-grabbing rock affectation) have been doling out alternative punk-metal since the end of the 80s, enlivened by frontman Andy Cairns’ weird sense of humour and love of a catchy tune.

Support comes from the spectral Ricky Warwick and the spooky October File.

Doors open at 6.30pm.