XL Recordings & Sports Banger Rework British Rave History
The brands have created a limited-edition collection drawing directly from the label’s formative years in British rave culture, get up.
XL Recordings has joined forces with Sports Banger for a limited-edition collection drawing directly from the label’s formative years in British rave culture.
Bringing together XL founder Richard Russell and Sports Banger’s Jonny Banger, the collaboration reworks music and imagery from a pivotal period in the label’s history. T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies reference the raw energy of The Prodigy, Liquid’s euphoric breakbeats, Jonny L’s acid-infused jungle techno and the hardcore sound of SL2.
At the centre of the collection is the XL Banger bomber jacket: a black and hot-pink reinterpretation of the original XL bomber, created in collaboration with Maharishi. Each jacket also arrives with a handmade, solid-brass ACME Thunderer whistle concealed inside the pocket.
The project extends beyond clothing with the XL BANGER compilation LP, featuring defining tracks including Liquid’s “Sweet Harmony”, SL2’s “DJs Take Control”, The Prodigy’s “Out of Space” and Jonny L’s “The Ansaphone”.
Rooted in sampling, independence, rave culture and resistance, the collaboration connects XL’s early catalogue with the community and creative energy that continues to surround it today.
To mark the release, Sports Banger will host a one-off rave at its Tottenham HQ on Saturday 1 August, running from 3pm until late, with a line-up made up of XL and Sports Banger friends and family. Be sure to check it out if you are in town.
The limited collection is available now.
Photography: @roxy_lee
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