Detail on the wall of the Dungeons

A small group of Sweet Harmony volunteers have been investigating Brain Records, the Leytonstone-based jungle and hardcore label founded and led by DJ/Producer Bizzy B. Lewis Brooker, Holly McGratten and Jack Savidge interviewed Bizzy B, TDK, DJ D Lux and Mad B all of whom have released music on Brain. 

Taking place at D Lux’s Deja Vu radio station the conversation was wide-ranging, touching on how they met around the Cathall estate in Leytonstone, their experiences cutting dubplates at Music House in Hackney and describing making music at Bizzy’s studio. They demonstrated how they used to build tracks on an 8-bit programme called Octamed that ran on the Amiga, showing how the limitations of the early sampling package were essential to their roughneck jungle sound.

Bizzy B demonstrating Octamed on the Atari

Following that the party moved on to the disused Dungeons venue where Brain ran a room at their regular club nights between 1993 and 1998. The railway-arch space was last used in 2008, but it was obvious to all present that its dimensions, aesthetics and atmosphere were perfect for hosting raves. Bizzy, TDK and D Lux shared their memories of partying at the Dungeons while guiding the cameras around; it was clear this was a place of deep significance for all of them.

The Dungeons’ main arch

The Brain Records arch

The venue has been left much as it was when it was last used in 2008