Ed Rush, Optical, and the Virus Recordings Era

The duo and label that defined techstep in the late 90s and built the production language that became neurofunk.

Ed Rush and Optical (Ben Settle and Matt Quinn) launched Virus Recordings in 1998. The label and the duo essentially codified techstep, the immediate ancestor of modern neurofunk.

The sound they invented

Dark, mechanical, sub-heavy DnB built around the Reece bass and tight drum programming. Tracks like Wormhole and Mexican set the template that Noisia, BSE, Mefjus and the entire Vienna scene would refine over the next two decades.

The Virus catalogue

Over 100 releases. Influential through the entire 2000s. The label also developed Cause 4 Concern, Konflict, Stakka and other early-2000s techstep producers. Most of the catalogue is still findable on Bandcamp; the early vinyl is collectible.

Where they are now

Both members still tour, occasionally release new material, mostly enjoy elder-statesman status. A Virus showcase night still pulls heads who started listening in 2001 and never quite left.