Together the duo made their mark hosting Friday night weekly sessions called "Total Kaos" in their hometown of Leicester, and in other massive gatherings of up to 6000 heads, in the earlier part of the decade. As time moved forward with the styles and the scene, Formation remained at the forefront of underground dance music in the UK. Formation Records is the founding label of what is now The Formation Recording Group: New Identity Recordings, Hard Beats Incorporated and 5HQ Recordings. Formation, now respected internationally for its unique showcase of hard-step drum 'n' bass, has established these branches to represent particular evolutions in British breakbeat music.

New Identity Recordings, launched in 1996 with the "Jazz & Bass Volume I" compilation, consistently brings on the smoother side of drum 'n' bass for home listeners and DJs alike. New Identity has recently released "Jazz & Bass II," the second album in the series, showcasing a mesmerizing fusion of classical jazz and modern drum 'n' bass. Producing this compilation was a unique way for the label to feature new artists alongside long-standing members of Formation, including Tekniq, Blue Sonix, Shy FX, Grasscutter, Rayner, Perfect Combination, Dataflow, and New Mount City Breakers with DJ SS, John B, Matrix, Mental Power and Codename John (aka DJ Grooverider). "The reason why we formed New ID is for the artists to have a chance to express themselves musically, 'cause it's all about the music at the end of the day. It's alright doing drum 'n' bass with just heavy b-lines and noise and that, but you have to put the music in it sometimes, and that's what this concepts all about," said SS in an interview with DJ Push of Radio-V and Future Breaks FM.

5HQ, the record shop which has been a long-time foundation for the Formation State, was developed as a label to promote the shop and the culminating talent that represents jump-up and hard-step drum 'n' bass. The latest edition of Formation has taken form as Hard Beats Inc. with releases that have been reviewed as possessing an "eerie vibe to groove to, taking you to another dimension."

At the brink of the new millennium, the Formation State acknowledges that their undeniable UK sound has travelled far beyond the boundaries of their land in a breathtakingly short amount of time. "We're just trying to expose the scene--to say, it's not just a UK thing, it's an international thing," said SS. As a tribute to the artists who are the seeds for the evolving frequencies of drum 'n' bass growing in the various environments of our expansive earth, "The World of Drum & Bass" compilation will emerge in the early part of 1999. It is the crescendo release following the label's "Country Series" which will feature works from Formation producers DJ SS, Codename John, John B, Matrix and Mental Power plus special guest appearances by producers from the UK, US, Japan, Australia and Europe. They ask, "Is the world ready for it yet?" The "World of Drum & Bass" album will also feature an extensive World Directory with contact details for everything and everybody connected to Drum 'n' Bass culture, including DJs, producers, record labels, stores and radio stations accross the globe.

As the world takes on the sound of drum 'n' bass, you can be sure the landmark of Formation Recordings will continue to introduce new sounds and new faces to the evolving global circuit of futuristic breakbeat music. Check out the Formation webspace for the latest beats and pieces on the evolution of their force.