Calibre: the Belfast producer who helped name liquid funk

Some producers join a style. Others are so closely tied to it that the style takes its character from them. Calibre, the stage name of Dominick Martin from Belfast, is one of the second kind, and his story shows how a sound can spread through radio, club nights and word of mouth.

The producer

Wikipedia describes Calibre as a Northern Irish drum and bass producer and DJ from Belfast who is highly regarded for his influence on the liquid funk style, which was partially named after his distinct production style. He primarily releases his own work through his personal label, Signature Records, though he has also released on Hospital Records, V Recordings, Creative Source and Soul:R.

The radio connection

Many of his productions, some of which were unreleased at the time, became synonymous with liquid funk because DJ Fabio played most of them on his BBC Radio 1 show, Liquid Funk, and at Swerve club nights in the early 2000s. Swerve was originally known as Speed and was co run with LTJ Bukem.

That detail is a good example of how scenes build. A radio show gave a producer an audience, a club night gave the audience a place to gather and the music acquired a name.

The Shelflife albums

Beginning in 2007, some of those unreleased productions were put out in the Shelflife series of albums, alongside other works by Martin, on Signature Records. The series gave fans a chance to own tunes that they had previously heard only on the radio or at a night.

An unusual point

Wikipedia notes that, according to UKF, none of Martin's productions have been officially remixed by other artists, and that he has said he is unbothered about bootleg remixes. In a scene where remixes are common, that is notable. It suggests a producer whose tunes are seen as complete as they are.

Where to listen

For a first taste, look for his Signature Records releases and the Shelflife albums, and notice how much space there is in the arrangements. Compare them with the more vocal driven records on Hospital to hear different routes to the same sound.

Our guide to liquid drum and bass explains where the name came from, and Calibre's catalogue is one of the best ways to hear it.