Low End Activist’s new record, Municipal Dreams, is a major statement of intent. The album is a quasi-autobiographical look at the Oxford council estate that the Berlin-via-England artist grew up in; it uses the long, rich language of the UK hardcore rave continuum as a jumping-off point for sonic abstraction and a certain stripe of sociopolitical inquiry. The themes present on this record are as heavy as the bass that underpins the tracks. 

Clearly, the artist’s—real name: Larry Edgar Anderson—history with British music is deep, which makes him a perfect candidate for our ongoing Web of Influences series. Luckily, he agreed to tackle a few questions over email, and the answers he hit us back with were illuminating. Give it a read and listen to Municipal Dreams below.

What kind of music were your parents into? Did their tastes influence you at all?

I think my earliest memories of music at home would've been my mum listening to Whitney Houston. We had one of those old HiFi systems that came in a cabinet, and there was a little stool next to it with some huge headphones. My parents split when I was quite young, so it wasn't until I was a little older and seeing my father on weekends that I would have an insight into his musical world. He was out and about for want of a better description, so he spent a fair bit of time taking in the acid house culture that was sweeping across the country. There was always lots of party paraphernalia lying about his home, strewn across the coffee table. He would pick up tapes at the raves he was attending and music was belting out of his living room morning to night.

Can you remember your first brush with proper sound system culture?

Yes! I was going back to my best mate Kieran's house after school, we would've been in year six of middle school I think? So I was 12 or 13. He had a pretty small bedroom but the most enormous sub in it! I couldn't get my head around it, compared to my budget Alba HiFi system, this just blew my mind. He used to play this on repeat to show me how “subby” it was, ha ha. There was also a local sound system called Street Level that set up and played records in the pub my dad worked at every Friday and Saturday night. I would hear for the first time the likes of King Tubby, Supercat, Massive Attack, Soul II Soul, and Frankie Knuckles in that place. Timmy the DJ is largely responsible for laying the foundations of my musical taste I would say. I was glued to the speakers and as fascinated by them as DJs/performers.

 

Growing up, what kind of stuff did you and your friends do for fun?

I grew up on a big social housing estate in the South of Oxford, but beyond that it was all fields and farmland. Lots of privately owned land. Skeleton Key forest! (Which I think was only named that locally!) We'd often build bases, not sure if that would translate to everyone reading this? Essentially we'd build shelters that we could hang out in, then drink alcohol and smoke weed in, sometimes lying to our parents, and a group of us would sleep the night there. Other than the local youth club, skating, and playing football, there wasn't much going on, so you had to create your own entertainment. Everyone was struggling to get by so needless to say petty crime was inevitable.

Who was the grime artist that got you into the genre?

Without doubt, Wiley. 

 

What was the first track you produced? What did it sound like?

It would've been on Music 2000 on the Playstation, it was more moving blocks around than producing, but I feel like I definitely made some tracks that I was proud of at the time, proud enough to show my friends anyhow! My brother Robert saved over them, so they were lost forever. LOL—I was devastated/furious. I recall them sounding kinda techno-y?

 

Do you have a favorite subgenre of British bass music? Is there one that is particularly close to your heart?

UK Hardcore circa 92/93. If I had to send someone in the direction of something to listen to, I'd link them up with this: 

Are there any scenes or communities that you aren’t part of, but still inspire you?

Yeah, the whole weightless thing that happened with Mumdance, Logos, and all those Different Circles artists. Mr. Mitch, Slackk were running the Boxed party in London also. It was refreshing to see grime head off in a new and exciting direction.

 

What is the state of British bass music? Any new artists you love?

It's very popular isn't it?! I feel like my label Sneaker Social Club is still dangling on the peripheries there somewhere?! Loads of great artists, I'm a big fan of Silas' skeletal sub-heavy tunes, his last 12" on the label is one of my favorites of the year. Luke (Stonecirclesampler/Liquid DnB-like Ambient Grime 2/so many other monikers!) is turning out some mad tunes. Alan Johnson is another deadly duo!

 

Do you have any non-musical influences?

Jeremy Deller has put out some music projects in the past—which I loved, but more recently his politically motivated posters have been an influence on me thinking about my music as standing for something. I don't want to force a story onto a listener but I want to try and say something at least, even if it's a case of leaving breadcrumbs. Usually by way of sampling, and imagery in videos, track titles, etc. A lot of the topics are relevant to my experience growing up in little Britain, a lot of these topics still exist today, so it still makes sense to project my thoughts and feelings about them at this current time.