X-Cabs

X Cabs are one of several aliases used by DJ Chris Cowie (other nom de plumes have included Vegas Soul and DeNiro, in addition to recording under his real name). Launched during the mid-'90s, X Cabs got started with a string of singles, including the debut release "Neuro," which was initially issued via Cowie's own label, Hook Records. When the single was reissued shortly thereafter via the Positiva label, it became an underground hit, eventually selling nearly 80,000 copies. X Cabs' high-energy live show proved to be quite impressive, as well, as Cowie refused to use sequenced backing tracks — instead relying on a mixture of loops, percussion and samples all played in real time — and made it a point to never repeat a set two times. X Cabs issued a pair of full-length releases, Chemistry in 1998, and after a break of several years, the sophomore effort Exposure, Vol. 1, in 2002; and continued to support his releases with shows throughout the world.