Wax Doctor

A proper player during jungle's rise from the underground during 1995-96, Paul Saunders' techno background hardly prepared listeners for the mellowed-out vibes and liquid tones of his work as Wax Doctor. Tracks like "Kid Caprice" (for Metalheadz) and "Atmospheric Funk" (for Talkin' Loud) were closely allied to L.T.J Bukem's junglite fusion though just a bit chunkier. Saunders began DJing in the late '80s, and though he juggled part-time mixing with a full-time football career for awhile (appearing as a reserve with Reading and later Crystal Palace), the Wax Doctor eventually debuted on production as well with several singles for Basement Records during 1992-93. He worked with fellow techno-head Alex Reece on Creative Wax and Precious Materials, but began drifting towards the growing drum'n'bass fascination with the lighter tones of jazz fusion. His singles for Metalheadz and Talkin' Loud signalled the new direction, and Saunders signed to R&S — noted more for listening techno than drum'n'bass — for two 1996 singles, "All I Need" and "Heat." Wax Doctor contributed a remix to label-mate Juan Atkins for a Model 500 single, "The Flow." R&S released the retrospective Selected Works in 1998.