Friction & Ktee – Set It Off / The Bleeps

Friction & K-Tee – Set It Off / The Bleeps

Released in 2009 on Shogun Audio, Set It Off / The Bleeps is a heavyweight double-A-side 12" from two of the most respected figures in British drum and bass. Catalogue number SHA026, the release arrived during a particularly strong period for Shogun Audio, with label co-owner Friction and K-Tee combining their production styles for two contrasting but equally club-focused cuts. The vinyl release appeared in July 2009 and went on to reach No. 94 on the UK Physical Singles Chart.

"Set It Off" is the more direct dancefloor weapon, built around a rolling drum and bass groove, heavy two-step breaks, paranoid pads, vocal sampling and a powerful bassline. Shogun Audio described the track as a pure D&B roller and noted that it had already been receiving major DJ support for around six months before release, with Andy C, High Contrast, Hype, Ed Rush, Fresh, Grooverider, Chase & Status and Sub Focus among those backing it.

On the flip, "The Bleeps" takes a darker and more atmospheric route. Thunderous kicks and a mystical electronic mood are built around the synthetic bleeps that give the track its name, creating a tougher, more stripped-back alternative to the rolling energy of the A-side. Both tracks were prominent in Friction's DJ sets around the time, including his 2009 Assassin Volume One mix for Shogun Audio.

The collaboration also brings together two producers with deep roots in the UK drum and bass scene. Friction had been active since the 1990s and became one of the scene's leading DJs and producers, while K-Tee's production history stretches back to the early 1990s, including releases on RAM Records and Liftin' Spirit and early collaborations with Friction. K-Tee later became a key figure behind Shogun Audio alongside Friction.

For collectors of 2000s drum and bass vinyl, early Shogun Audio releases and heavyweight dancefloor D&B, Set It Off / The Bleeps is a particularly useful addition. It captures Friction and K-Tee at the height of the label's early period, with the A-side delivering a tough, rolling club sound and the flip providing a darker, more atmospheric counterpoint.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Set It Off

Side AA

1. The Bleeps