FUEGO: MJ Cole
By Kit Macdonald
We're not too sure what it is with solo male artists with a two-initial first name, the second of them "J", but exactly like CJ Bolland, MJ Cole was briefly a household name in the 1990s - a passing moment of mass recognition amid decades of stellar but lesser-known work as a DJ and producer. In Matthew James Firth Coleman's case, the singles responsible for his taste of fame (you suspect both CJ and MJ actively decided to stay under the popular radar after their respective sojourns in the sun) were Sincere and Crazy Love, two tracks that defined the early sound of UK Garage.
An Ivor Novello Award, Brit Award nominations and work with artists including Jill Scott, Dizzee Rascal, and Aaliyah followed, and this DJ set at Razzmatazz will be an interesting way to find out where Cole's very musical head is currently at. Support in Room 1 comes from Alvva and Chicha, and more than a dozen other artists will be playing UK Garage, raptor house and techno across the venue's other rooms.