View source for Coldcut

{{Short description|English electronic music duo}}
{{For| cold cut meats|Lunch meat}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Coldcut
| image           = Matt Black - Coldcut (Vienna 2006).jpg
| caption         = Matt Black at a Coldcut performance, 2006
| image_size      = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| alias           =
| origin          = London, England
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Electronic music|Electronic]]|[[House music|house]]|[[Hip hop music|hip hop]]|[[trip hop]]|[[downtempo]]}}
| years_active    = 1986&ndash;present
| label           = [[Ninja Tune]]{{small| (current)}}, {{nowrap| [[Tommy Boy Records|Tommy Boy]]}}/[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]/{{nowrap|[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]{{small| (former)}}}}
| associated_acts = [[DJ Food]], [[Hex (VJ group)|Hex]], [[Hexstatic]], [[Yazz]], {{nowrap| [[Lisa Stansfield]]}}, {{nowrap| [[The Fall (band)|The Fall]]}}
| website         = {{url| Coldcut.net| Coldcut.net}}
| current_members = * [[Matt Black (DJ)|Matt Black]]
* Jonathan More
}}

'''Coldcut''' are an English [[electronic music]] duo composed of [[Matt Black (DJ)|Matt Black]] and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s,<ref>{{cite book |title=Spin |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=X1aghtVf0GEC&pg=PA48 |via=1996 |last1=Media |first1=Spin L.L.C. |date= Dec 1996 }}</ref> Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music<ref>{{cite news|title= After 200bpm, your heart blows up |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jan/18/popandrock|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=2006}}</ref> due to their innovative style, which featured [[cut-up technique|cut-up]] samples of hip-hop, soul, funk, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and [[multimedia]]. According to ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', "in '87 Coldcut pioneered the British fad for 'DJ records'".<ref name=Spin>{{cite book |title=Spin |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Jq-A2xEoAHIC&pg=PA86 |via=1998 |last1=Media |first1= Spin L.L.C. |date= April 1998 }}</ref>

Coldcut's records first introduced the public to pop artists [[Yazz]] and [[Lisa Stansfield]],<ref name="The Omnibus Book of British and American hit singles, 1960-1990">{{cite book|title=The Omnibus Book of British and American hit singles, 1960-1990|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YE5LAAAAYAAJ&q=coldcut+%22Doctorin%27+the+House%22| via=1990 |last1=McAleer |first1=Dave |date= June 1990 | publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn = 9780711921801}}</ref> through which these artists achieved pop chart success. In addition, Coldcut has remixed and created productions on tracks by [[Eric B & Rakim]], [[James Brown]], [[Queen Latifah]], [[Eurythmics]], [[INXS]], [[Steve Reich]], [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]], [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]], [[Pierre Henry]], [[Nina Simone]], [[Fog (band)|Fog]], [[Red Snapper (band)|Red Snapper]], and [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop]].

Beyond their work as a production duo, Coldcut are the founders of [[Ninja Tune]], an independent record label in London, England (with satellite offices in Los Angeles and Berlin) with an overall emphasis on encouraging interactive technology<ref>{{cite book |title=Billboard |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vgcEAAAAMBAJ&q=Arista+coldcut&pg=PA28 |via=1996 |page=28 |date= 1996-09-07}}</ref> and finding innovative uses of [[software]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Music Week |date=9 August 1997}}</ref> The label's first releases (the first four volumes of [[DJ Food]] - ''Jazz Brakes'') were produced by Coldcut in the early 1990s, and composed of instrumental [[hip hop music|hip-hop]] cuts that led the duo to help pioneer the [[trip hop]] genre,<ref>{{cite news |title= After 200 bpm, your heart blows up |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jan/18/popandrock |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date= 18 January 2006}}</ref> with artists such as [[Funki Porcini]], the Herbaliser and DJ Vadim.<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |newspaper= Music Week |date=9 August 1997}}</ref>

==Music career==
===1980s===
In 1986, computer programmer Matt Black and ex-[[art teacher]] Jonathan More were part-time [[DJ]]s on the [[rare groove]] scene. More also DJed on [[pirate radio]], hosting the ''Meltdown Show'' on [[Kiss 100 London|Kiss FM]] and worked at the Reckless Records store on [[Berwick Street]], London where Black visited as a customer. The first collaboration between the two artists was "[[Say Kids What Time Is It?]]" on a [[White label record|white label]] in January 1987, which mixed ''[[The Jungle Book (1967 film)|The Jungle Book]]''<nowiki/>'s "[[King of the Swingers]]" with the break from [[James Brown]]'s "[[Funky Drummer]]". The innovation of "Say Kids..." caused More and Black to be heralded by ''SPIN'' as "the first Brit artists to really get hip-hop's class-cutup aesthetic".<ref>{{cite book |title=SPIN |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X1aghtVf0GEC&q=coldcut+%22Say+Kids+What+Time+Is+It%3F%22&pg=PA48 |date= December 1996 |last1=Media |first1=Spin L.L.C. }}</ref> It is regarded as the UK's first breaks record,<ref name="books.google.co.uk">{{cite book |title= All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GJNXLSBlL7IC&q=coldcut+%22solid+steel%22+kiss&pg=PT50 |via=2001 |isbn= 9780879306281 |last1= Bogdanov |first1=Vladimir |year=2001| publisher=Backbeat Books }}</ref> the first UK record to be built entirely of samples<ref>{{cite book |title=Brit Cult: An A-z of British Pop Culture |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=9FwsAAAAYAAJ&q=coldcut+%22Doctorin%27+the+House%22 |via=2001 |isbn= 9780809293247 |last1=Calcutt |first1=Andrew |year=2001| publisher=Contemporary Books }}</ref> and "the final link in the chain connecting European collage-experiment with the dance-remix-scratch edit".<ref>{{cite book |title=Invisible jukebox |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7xPmAAAAMAAJ&q=coldcut+%22queen+latifah%22|access-date=26 November 2013 |last1= Herrington |first1=Tony |year=1998| publisher=Quartet Books |isbn = 9780704380462}}</ref> This was later sampled in "[[Pump Up the Volume (song)|Pump Up the Volume]]" by [[MARRS]], a single that reached number one in the UK in October 1987.

Though Black had joined Kiss FM with his own mix-based show, the pair eventually joined forces on its own show later in 1987 called ''[[Solid Steel]]''. The eclectic show became a unifying force in underground experimental electronic music<ref name="books.google.co.uk"/> and is still running, celebrating 25 years in 2013.

The duo adopted the name "Coldcut" and set up a record label called Ahead Of Our Time to release the single "[[Beats + Pieces]]" (one of the formats also included "That Greedy Beat") in 1987. All of these tracks were assembled using cassette pause button edits and later spliced tape edits that would sometimes run "all over the room". The duo used sampling from [[Led Zeppelin]] to [[James Brown]]. Electronic act [[the Chemical Brothers]] have described "Beats + Pieces" as the "first [[Big beat|bigbeat]] record", a style which appeared in the mid-1990s.

Coldcut's first mainstream success came when Julian Palmer from [[Island Records]] asked them to remix [[Eric B. & Rakim]]'s "[[Paid in Full (Eric B. & Rakim song)|Paid in Full]]". Released in October 1987, the landmark remix<ref>{{cite web |title= After 200bpm, your heart blows up |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jan/18/popandrock |work= The Guardian |date= 18 January 2006 |access-date= 18 January 2006}}</ref> is said to have "laid the groundwork for hip hop's entry into the UK mainstream",<ref>{{cite book |title= Invisible jukebox |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7xPmAAAAMAAJ&q=coldcut+%22queen+latifah%22 |via=1998 |last1=Herrington |first1=Tony |year=1998| publisher=Quartet Books |isbn = 9780704380462}}</ref> becoming a breakthrough hit for Eric B & Rakim outside the U.S., reaching No. 15 in the UK, and the top 20 in a number of European countries. It featured a prominent [[Ofra Haza]] sample and many other vocal cut ups as well as a looped rhythm which later, when sped up, proved popular in the [[breakbeat|Breakbeat genre]]. Off the back of its success in clubs, the Coldcut "Seven Minutes of Madness" remix ended up being promoted as the single in the UK.

In 1988, More and Black formed [[Hex (VJ group)|Hex]], a self-titled "multimedia pop group", with Mile Visman and Rob Pepperell. While working on videos for artists such as [[Kevin Saunderson]], Queen Latifah and [[Spiritualized]], Hex's collaborative work went on to incorporate 3D modelling, punk video art, and algorithmic visuals on desktop machines. The video for Coldcut's 'Christmas Break' in 1989 is arguably one of the first pop promos produced entirely on microcomputers.

In 1988, Coldcut released ''Out To Lunch With Ahead Of Our Time'', a double LP of Coldcut productions and re-cuts, and the various aliases under which the duo had recorded. This continued the duo's tradition of releasing limited available vinyl.<ref>{{cite book |title= Blues & Soul |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ui9LAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Out+To+Lunch+With+Ahead+Of+Our+Time%22 |via=1988 |date=June 1988 }}</ref>

The next Coldcut single, released in February 1988, moved towards a more house-influenced style.<ref>{{cite book |title= Last Night a Dj Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey |isbn = 9781555846114|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Np3dpRhTsxQC&q=coldcut+yazz&pg=PA350 |via= 1999|last1 = Brewster|first1 = Bill|last2 = Broughton|first2 = Frank|date = December 2007| publisher=Grove Atlantic }}</ref> "[[Doctorin' the House]]", which debuted singer [[Yazz]],<ref name="http">{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Rap, Dance & Techno |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kmgZAQAAIAAJ&q=coldcut+yazz |date=1994|isbn = 9780851127880|last1 = Larkin|first1 = Colin| publisher=Guinness }}</ref> became a top ten hit, and peaked at No. 6.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pjLy95O2ILYC&q=coldcut+yazz&pg=PA62|title=The Ultimate 80's Music Book|first=Michael|last=Anderson|page=62|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781409209041|via=Google Books}}</ref> In the same year, under the guise Yazz and the Plastic Population, they produced "[[The Only Way Is Up]]", a cover of a [[Northern soul]] song. The record reached No. 1 in the UK in August, and remained there for five weeks, becoming 1988's second biggest selling single.<ref name="http"/> Producer [[Martin Glover|Youth]] of [[Killing Joke]] also helped Coldcut with this record. The duo had another top hit in September with "[[Stop This Crazy Thing]]", which featured reggae vocalist [[Junior Reid]] and reached number 21 in the UK.<ref>{{cite book|title=KISS FM: From Radical Radio To Big Business: The Inside Story Of A London|isbn = 9780956496317|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LZ-RpGjFavoC&q=coldcut+%22Doctorin%27+the+House%22&pg=PT89 |access-date=1 June 2011|last1 = Goddard|first1 = Grant|date = 9 June 2011| publisher=Radio Books }}</ref>

The single "[[People Hold On]]" became another UK Top 20 hit. Released in March 1989, it helped launch the career<ref>{{cite book |title= The encyclopedia of popular music |isbn = 9780195313734|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8gkKAQAAMAAJ&q=%22People+Hold+On%22+lisa+stansfield |via=2001|last1 = Larkin|first1 = Colin|year = 2000}}</ref> of the then relatively unknown singer [[Lisa Stansfield]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Atwood |first=Brett |title= Coldcut dishes out more multimedia |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=IA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=coldcut+%22Doctorin%27+the+House%22&pg=PA66|magazine=Billboard |date= 18 January 1997}}</ref> Coldcut and [[Mark Saunders (record producer)|Mark Saunders]] produced her debut solo single "[[This Is the Right Time]]", which became another UK Top 20 hit in August as well as reaching No. 21 on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] the following year.

As the duo started to enjoy critical and commercial success,<ref>{{cite book|last=Goddard|first=Grant|title=KISS FM: From Radical Radio To Big Business: The Inside Story of a London |date=9 June 2011|publisher=Radio Books |isbn=9780956496317|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LZ-RpGjFavoC&q=coldcut+%22Doctorin%27+the+House%22&pg=PT89 |access-date=9 June 2011}}</ref> their debut album ''[[What's That Noise?]]'' was released in April 1989 on Ahead of Our Time and distributed by Big Life Records. The album gave "breaks the full length treatment",<ref>{{cite book |last=Bogdanov |first=Vladimir |title= All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music |year=2001 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=9780879306281 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GJNXLSBlL7IC&q=coldcut+%22solid+steel%22+kiss&pg=PT50 |via=2001}}</ref> and showcased "their heady blend of hip-hop production aesthetics and proto-acid house grooves".<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book |title= All Music Guide to Hip-hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop |isbn = 9780879307592|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Wr1lmklsD8QC&q=Arista+coldcut&pg=PT69 |via=2003|last1 = Authors|first1 = Various|year = 2003| publisher=Backbeat Books }}</ref> It also rounded up a heap of unconventional guest features, quoted by SPIN as having "somehow found room at the same table for [[Queen Latifah]] and [[Mark E. Smith]]".<ref>{{cite web |title= Spin: Dig Your Own Hole |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=I4irI6O3Ko8C&q=coldcut+%22queen+latifah%22&pg=RA1-PA109 |work=SPIN |date=May 1997}}</ref> The album's track "I'm in Deep" (featuring Smith) prefigured the indie-dance guitar-breaks crossover of such bands as the [[Stone Roses]] and [[Happy Mondays]], utilizing Smith's freestyle raucous vocals over an acid house backing, and also including psych guitar samples from British rock band [[Deep Purple]]. ''What's That Noise?'' reached the Top 20 in the UK and was certified Silver.

===1990s===
Coldcut's second album, ''Some Like It Cold'', released in 1990 on Ahead Of Our Time, featured a collaboration with [[Queen Latifah]] on the single "Find a Way". Though "Find a Way" was a minor hit in the UK, no more singles were released from the album. The duo was given the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]] "Producer of the Year Award" in 1990. Hex - alongside some other London visual experimenters such as iE - produced a series of videos for a longform [[VHS]] version of the album. This continued Coldcut and Hex's pioneering of the use of [[microcomputers]] to synthesize electronic music visuals.

After their success with Lisa Stansfield, Coldcut signed with her label, [[Arista Records|Arista]]. Conflicts arose with the major label, as Coldcut's "vision extended beyond the formulae of house and techno" and mainstream pop culture (CITATION: The Virgin Encyclopedia Of Nineties Music, 2000). Eventually, the duo's album [[Philosophy (album)|Philosophy]] emerged in 1993. Singles "Dreamer" and "[[Autumn Leaves (1945 song)|Autumn Leaves]]" (1994) sung by vocalist Janis Alexander were both minor hits but the album did not chart.

"Autumn Leaves" had strings recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road]], with a 30-piece string section and an arrangement by film composer [[Ed Shearmur]]. The leader of the string section was [[Simon Jeffes]] of [[Penguin Cafe Orchestra]]. Coldcut's insistence on their friend [[Mixmaster Morris]] to remix "Autumn Leaves"<ref>{{cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title= The Virgin encyclopedia of nineties music |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=crs7AQAAIAAJ&q=coldcut+%22Some+Like+It+Cold%22 |year=2000 |publisher=Virgin |isbn=9780753504277 |via=2000}}</ref> led to one of Morris' most celebrated remixes,<ref>{{cite book |title= Crossfade: a big chill anthology |isbn = 9781852428754|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pBcJAQAAMAAJ&q=mixmaster+morris+%22autumn+leaves%22 |access-date= 15 November 2004|last1 = Lawrence|first1 = Pete|last2 = Howard|first2 = Vicki|year = 2004| publisher=Serpent's Tail }}</ref> which became a minor legend<ref>{{cite book |title= All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music |isbn = 9780879306281|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GJNXLSBlL7IC&q=mixmaster+morris+%22autumn+leaves%22&pg=PT50 |via=2001|last1 = Bogdanov|first1 = Vladimir|last2 = Woodstra|first2 = Chris|last3 = Bush|first3 = John|last4 = Erlewine|first4 = Stephen Thomas|year = 2001}}</ref> in ambient music. It has appeared on numerous compilations.

In 1990, whilst on their first tour in Japan (which also featured Norman Cook, who later became [[Fatboy Slim]]), Matt and Jon formed their second [[record label]], [[Ninja Tune]], as a self-titled "technocoloured escape pod", and a way to escape the creative control of major labels.<ref>{{cite web |title= Billboard |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vgcEAAAAMBAJ&q=Arista+coldcut&pg=PA28 |page=28 |date=7 September 1996}}</ref> The label enabled them to release music under different aliases (e.g. Bogus Order, DJ Food), which also helped them to avoid pigeonholing as producers. Ninja Tune's first release was Bogus Order's "Zen Brakes". The name Coldcut stayed with Arista so there were no official Coldcut releases for the next three years.

During this time, Coldcut still produced for artists on their new label, releasing a flood of material under different names and continuing to work with young groups.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> They additionally kept on with ''[[Solid Steel]]'' on Kiss FM and running the night club Stealth (Club of the Year in the [[NME]], [[The Face magazine|''The Face'']], and ''[[Mixmag]]'' in 1996).

In 1991, Hex released their first video game, ''[[Top Banana (video game)|Top Banana]]'', which was included on a Hex release for the [[Commodore CDTV]] machine in 1992, arguably the first complete purpose-designed multimedia system.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cawkell |first=Tony |title= The Multimedia Handbook |date=18 May 2004 |isbn=9780203398371 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=j4JjoLzoJLQC&q=Commodore+CDTV+machine&pg=PA121 |access-date= 18 May 2004}}</ref> ''Top Banana'' was innovative in that it used sampled graphics, contained an ecological theme and a female lead character (dubbed "KT"), and its music changed through random processes. Coldcut and Hex presented this multimedia project as an example of the forthcoming convergence of pop music and computer-game characters.

In 1992, Hex's first single - "Global Chaos" / "Digital Love Opus 1" - combined rave visuals with techno and ambient interactive visuals.<ref>{{cite web |title= Billboard |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=IA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=Arista+coldcut&pg=PA66 |date= 18 January 1997}}</ref>
In November of that year, Hex released Global Chaos CDTV, which took advantage of the possibilities of the new [[CD-ROM]] medium. The Global Chaos CDTV disk (which contained the ''Top Banana'' game, interactive visuals and audio), was a forerunner of the "CD+" concept, uniting music, graphics, and video games into one.<ref>{{cite book |title=All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music |isbn = 9780879306281|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GJNXLSBlL7IC&q=Global+Chaos+CDTV&pg=PT196 |via=2001 |last1 = Bogdanov|first1 = Vladimir|last2 = Woodstra|first2 = Chris|last3 = Bush|first3 = John|last4 = Erlewine|first4 = Stephen Thomas|year = 2001}}</ref> This multi-dimensional entertainment product received wide coverage in the national media, including features on Dance Energy, Kaleidoscope on [[BBC Radio 4]], ''What's Up Doc?'' on [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] and ''Reportage'' on [[BBC Two]]. ''[[i-D Magazine]]'' was quoted as saying, "It's like your TV tripping".

Coldcut videos were made for most songs, often by [[Hexstatic]], and used a lot of stock and sampled footage. Their "Timber" video, which created an AV collage piece using analogous techniques to audio sample collage, was put on heavy rotation on MTV.<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via= 26 November 2013 |newspaper=The Independent |date=15 January 1999}}</ref> Stuart Warren Hill of Hexstatic referred to this technique as: "What you see is what you hear".  "Timber" (which appears on both ''Let Us Play'', Coldcut's fourth album, and ''Let Us Replay'', their fifth) won awards for its innovative use of repetitive video clips synced to the music,<ref>{{cite book |title= All Music Guide to Hip-hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop |isbn = 9780879307592|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Wr1lmklsD8QC&q=coldcut+%22solid+steel%22&pg=PT210 |access-date= 26 November 2013|last1 = Authors|first1 = Various|year = 2003}}</ref> including being shortlisted at the Edinburgh Television and Film Festival in their top five music videos of the year in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via= 26 November 2013 |newspaper= The Guardian |date= February 1999}}</ref>

Coldcut began integrating video sampling into their live DJ gigs at the time, and incorporated multimedia content that caused press to credit the act as segueing "into the computer age".<ref>{{cite web |title=Billboard |date = 18 January 1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22trip-hop%22+coldcut&pg=PA66 |access-date= 26 November 2013}}</ref> Throughout the 90s, Hex created visuals for Coldcut's live performances, and developed the CD-ROM portion of Coldcut's ''Let Us Play'' and ''Let Us Replay'', in addition to software developed specifically for the album's world tour. Hex's inclusion of music videos and "playtools" (playful art/music software programs) on Coldcut's CD-ROM was completely ahead of the curve at that time, offering viewers/listeners a high level of interactivity.<ref>{{cite book |title= Changing Tunes: The Use of Pre-existing Music in Film |isbn = 9780754651376|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tvnw4_zXsl0C&q=coldcut+VJamm&pg=PA175 |access-date= 26 November 2013|last1 = Powrie|first1 = Phil|last2 = Stilwell|first2 = Robynn Jeananne|year = 2006}}</ref> Playtools such as My Little Funkit and Playtime were the prototypes for [http://www.ninjajamm.com/ Ninja Jamm], the app Coldcut designed and launched 16 years later. Playtime followed on from Coldcut and Hex's Synopticon installation, developing the auto-cutup algorhythm, and using other random processes to generate surprising combinations. Coldcut and Hex performed live using Playtime at the 1st [[Sónar|Sonar Festival]] in 1994. Playtime was also used to generate the backing track for Coldcut's collaboration with [[Jello Biafra]], "Every Home a Prison".

In 1994, Coldcut and Hex contributed an installation to the [[Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art]]. The piece, called ''Generator'', was installed in the Fire Gallery. ''Generator'' was an interactive installation which allowed users to mix sound, video, text and graphics and make their own audio-visual mix, modelled on the techniques and technology used by Coldcut in clubs and live performance events. It consisted of two consoles: the left controlling how the sounds are played, the right controlling how the images are played.

As part of the JAM exhibition of "Style, Music and Media" at the [[Barbican Art Gallery]] in 1996, Coldcut and Hex were commissioned to produce an interactive audiovisual piece called Synopticon. Conceived and designed by Robert Pepperell and Matt Black, the digital culture synthesiser allows users to "remix" sounds, images, text and music in a partially random, partially controlled way.

The year 1996 also brought the Coldcut name back to More and Black, and the pair celebrated with ''[[70 Minutes of Madness]]'', a mix CD that became part of the [[Journeys by DJ]] series. The release was credited with "bringing to wider attention the sort of freestyle mixing the pair were always known for through their radio show on KISS FM, Solid Steel, and their steady club dates".<ref>{{cite book|title=All Music Guide to Hip-hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop|isbn = 9780879307592|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wr1lmklsD8QC&q=Arista+coldcut&pg=PT69|access-date=26 November 2013|last1 = Authors|first1 = Various|year = 2003}}</ref> It was voted "Best Compilation of All Time" by [[Jockey Slut]] in 1998.

In February 1997, they released a double pack single "Atomic Moog 2000" / "Boot the System", the first Coldcut release on Ninja Tune. This was not eligible for the UK chart because time and format restrictions prevented the inclusion of the "Natural Rhythm" video on the CD. In August 1997, a reworking of the early track "More Beats + Pieces" gave them their first UK Top 40 hit since 1989.

The album ''[[Let Us Play!]]'' followed in September and also made the Top 40. The fourth album by Coldcut, ''Let Us Play!'' paid homage to the greats that inspired them.<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via=26 November 2013 |newspaper= Music Week |date=9 August 1997}}</ref> Their first album to be released on Ninja Tune, it featured guest appearances by [[Grandmaster Flash]], [[Steinski]], [[Jello Biafra]], [[Jimpster]], [[The Herbaliser]], [[Talvin Singh]], [[Daniel Pemberton]] and Selena Saliva. Coldcut's cut 'n' paste method on the album was compared to that of [[Dadaism]] and [[William Burroughs]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Shapiro |first=Peter |title= Drum 'n' Bass: The Rough Guide |year=1999 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=9781858284330 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=IxEpAyPvyXoC&q=coldcut+%22let+us+play%22+album&pg=PT223 |access-date= 26 November 2013}}</ref> Hex collaborated with Coldcut to produce the multimedia [[CD-ROM]] for the album. Hex later evolved the software into the engine that was used on the Let Us Play! world tour.

In 1997, Matt Black - alongside Cambridge based developers Camart - created [[Video scratching|real-time video manipulation]] software VJAMM. It allowed users to be a "digital video jockey",<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via= 26 November 2013 |newspaper=NME |date=January 1999}}</ref> remixing and collaging <ref>{{cite news  |title= (unknown title) |via=26 November 2013 |newspaper=Sound on Sound |date=January 1999}}</ref> sound and images <ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite book |title=New Digital Cinema: Reinventing the Moving Image |isbn = 9781904764250|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=f21G0d3wX7wC&q=coldcut+VJamm&pg=PA72 |access-date= 26 November 2013|last1 = Willis|first1 = Holly|year = 2005| publisher=Wallflower Press }}</ref> and trigger audio and visual samples simultaneously,<ref name="autogenerated1999">{{cite news |title= (unknown title) | via= 26 November 2013 |newspaper= Melody Maker |date=16 January 1999}}</ref> subsequently bringing futuristic technology to the audio-visual field.<ref>{{cite book |title= Making Music with Samples: Tips, Techniques & 600+ Ready-to-use Samples |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_HbhFKzIpDUC&q=coldcut+VJamm&pg=PA180 |page=180 |isbn = 9780879308391|access-date= 26 November 2013 |last1 = Duffell|first1 = Daniel|date = January 2005| publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation }}</ref> VJAMM rivalled some of the features of high-end and high cost tech at the time. The VJAMM technology, praised as being proof of how far computers changed the face of live music,<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via=26 November 2013 |newspaper= Computer Music, Issue 4 |date=March 1999}}</ref> became seminal in both Coldcut's live sets (which were called a "revelaton" by Melody Maker <ref name="autogenerated1999"/> and DJ sets. Their CCTV live show was featured at major festivals including [[Glastonbury]], [[Roskilde]], [[Sónar]], the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]], and [[John Peel]]'s Meltdown. The "beautifully simple and devastatingly effective" <ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via=26 November 2013 |newspaper= DJ Magazine, Issue 33, Vol 2 |date=13–26 February 1999}}</ref> software was deemed revolutionary,<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via= 26 November 2013 |newspaper=Muzik |date= March 1999}}</ref> and became recognized as a major factor in the evolution of clubs.<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) | via=26 November 2013 |newspaper=iDJ |date=September 2001}}</ref> It eventually earned a place in the American Museum of the Moving Image's permanent collection.<ref name="ReferenceC"/> As quoted by The Independent, Coldcut's rallying cry was "Don't hate the media, be the media'".<ref>{{cite news |title= Music: Remix your television set |newspaper= The Independent |date=15 January 1999 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music-remix-your-television-set-1073968.html |access-date=3 June 2018}}</ref> NME was quoted as saying: "Veteran duo Coldcut are so cool they invented the remix - now they are doing the same for television."

Also working with Camart, Black designed DJamm software in 1998, which Coldcut used on laptops for their live shows, providing the audio bed alongside VJAMM's audiovisual samples. Matt Black explained they designed DJamm so they "could perform electronic music in a different way – i.e., not just taking a session band out to reproduce what you put together in the studio using samples. It had a relationship to DJing, but was more interactive and more effective."<ref>{{cite web |title= AudioTechnology Magazine, issue 47 |url= http://www.audiotechnology.com.au/PDF/FEATURES/AT47_Cold_Cut.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230621/http://www.audiotechnology.com.au/PDF/FEATURES/AT47_Cold_Cut.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-02 |url-status=live |work=AudioTechnology Magazine | issue=47 |access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> Excitingly at that time, DJamm was pioneering in its ability to shuffle sliced loops into intricate sequences, enabling users to split loops into any number of parts.<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via= 26 November 2013 |newspaper= Computer Music |date=March 1999}}</ref>

In 1999, ''Let Us Replay!'' was released, a double-disc remix album where Coldcut's classic tunes were remixed by the likes of [[Cornelius (musician)|Cornelius]] (which was heralded as a highlight of the album,<ref name="ReferenceB"/> [[Mixmaster Morris|Irresistible Force]], [[Shut Up and Dance (band)|Shut Up And Dance]], [[Carl Craig]] and J Swinscoe.<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |newspaper=Update |date=22–28 February 1999}}</ref> Let Us Replay! pieces together "short sharp shocks that put the mental in 'experimental' and still bring the breaks till the breakadawn".<ref>{{cite web |title=Spin |date = April 1999|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_NXdfW9kpokC&q=Let+Us+Replay%21+coldcut&pg=PT21 |access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> It also includes a few live tracks from the duo's innovative world tour.<ref>{{cite book |title= All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music |isbn = 9780879306281|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GJNXLSBlL7IC&q=Let+Us+Replay%21+coldcut&pg=PT51 |access-date= 26 November 2013|last1 = Bogdanov|first1 = Vladimir|last2 = Woodstra|first2 = Chris|last3 = Bush|first3 = John|last4 = Erlewine|first4 = Stephen Thomas|year = 2001| publisher=Backbeat Books }}</ref> The CD-ROM of the album, which also contained a free demo disc of the VJamm software,<ref>{{cite web |title= Coldcut: Let Us Replay! |url= http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1535-let-us-replay/ |work=Pitchfork |access-date=26 November 2013 }}</ref> was one of the earliest audiovisual CD- ROMs on the market,<ref>{{cite web |title= Volume 3, Issues 5-6 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=SVFLAAAAYAAJ&q=coldcut+VJamm |work=Artbyte |year = 2001|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> and Muzik claimed deserved to "have them canonized...it's like buying an entire mini studio for under $15".<ref>{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via= 26 November 2013 |newspaper= Muzik |date= September 1997}}</ref>

===2000s===
In 2000, the ''Solid Steel'' show moved to [[BBC London]].

Coldcut continued to forge interesting collaborations, including 2001's ''Re:volution'' as an EP in which Coldcut created their own political party (The Guilty Party). Featuring scratches and samples of [[Tony Blair]] and [[William Hague]] speeches,<ref>{{cite web |title=Watch Coldcut - Re:Volution |url=http://www.roxwel.com/player/coldcutrevolution.html?detect_bitrate=_700 |work=Roxwel |access-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230254/http://www.roxwel.com/player/coldcutrevolution.html?detect_bitrate=_700 |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the 3-track EP included Nautilus' "Space Journey", which won an Intermusic contest in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title= Coldcut Re:volution EP |url= http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1533-revolution-ep/ |work=Pitchfork |access-date =26 November 2013}}</ref> The video was widely played on [[MTV]]. With "Space Journey", Coldcut were arguably the first group to give fans access to the multitrack parts, or "stems" of their songs, building on the idea of interactivity and sharing from ''Let Us Play''.

In 2001, Coldcut produced tracks for the [[Sega]] music video game ''[[Rez (video game)|Rez]]''. ''Rez'' replaced typical video-game sound effects with electronic music; the player created sounds and melodies, intended to simulate a form of synesthesia. The soundtrack also featured [[Adam Freeland]] and [[Oval (musical project)|Oval]].

In 2002, while utilizing VJamm and Detraktor, Coldcut and Juxta remixed [[Herbie Hancock]]'s classic "[[Rockit (song)|Rockit]]", creating both an audio and video remix.

Working with Marcus Clements in 2002, Coldcut released the sample manipulation algorhythm from their DJamm software as a standalone VST plugin that could be used in other software, naming it the "Coldcutter".

Also in 2002, Coldcut with UK VJs Headspace (now mainly performing as the VJamm Allstars developed Gridio, an interactive, immersive audio-visual installation for the [[Pompidou Centre]] as part of the ‘'Sonic Process'' exhibition.<ref>{{cite web |title= Volumes 200-202 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qEA4AQAAIAAJ&q=coldcut+gridio+pompidou |work=Blueprint|access-date= 26 November 2013}}</ref> The ''Sonic Process'' exhibition was launched at the [[Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art|MACBA]] in Barcelona in conjunction with [[Sónar]], featuring Gridio as its centerpiece. In 2003, a commission for [[Graz]] led to a specially built version of Gridio, in a cave inside the castle mountain in Austria. Gridio was later commissioned by [[O2 (United Kingdom)|O2]] for two simultaneous customised installations at the O2 Wireless Festivals in [[Leeds]] and London in 2007. That same year, Gridio was featured as part of Optronica at the opening week of the new [[BFI Southbank]] development in London.

In 2003, Black worked with [[Penny Rimbaud]] (ex [[Crass]]) on [[Crass Agenda]]'s Savage Utopia project. Black performed the piece with Rimbaud, Eve Libertine and other players at London's [[Vortex Jazz Club]].

In 2004, Coldcut collaborated with American [[video mashup]] artist TV Sheriff to produce their cut-up entitled "Revolution USA". The tactical-media project (coordinated with Canadian art duo NomIg) followed on from the UK version and extended the premise "into an open access participatory project".<ref>{{cite book|title=Digital Media and Democracy: Tactics in Hard Times|isbn = 9780262514897|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4bv-eeLkG6YC&q=%22Revolution+USA%22+coldcut&pg=PA370|access-date=26 November 2013|last1 = Boler|first1 = Megan|year = 2010}}</ref> Through the multimedia political art project, over 12 gigabytes of footage from the last 40 years of US politics were made accessible to download, allowing participants to create a cut-up over a Coldcut beat.<ref>{{cite web|title=REVOLUTION:USA - A Coldcut & Nomig Project|url=http://www.portwax.net/blogwax/archives/60|work=Portwax|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> Coldcut also collaborated with TV Sheriff and NomIg to produce two audiovisual pieces "World of Evil" (2004) and "Revolution '08" (2008), both composed of footage from the United States presidential elections of respective years. The music used was composed by Coldcut, with "Revolution '08" featuring a remix by the Qemists.

Later that year, a collaboration with the [[British Antarctic Survey|British Antarctic Survey (BAS)]] led to the psychedelic art documentary ''Wavejammer''. Coldcut was given access to the BAS archive in order to create sounds and visuals for the short film.

Coldcut produced a radio play in 2004 in conjunction with [[Hari Kunzru]] for [[BBC Radio 3]] (called ''Sound Mirrors'').<ref name="autogenerated2006">{{cite news |title= (unknown title) |via= 26 November 2013 |newspaper= DJ Times |year=2006}}</ref>

Coldcut returned with the single "Everything Is Under Control" at the end of 2005, featuring [[Jon Spencer]] (of [[Jon Spencer Blues Explosion]]) and [[Mike Ladd]]. It was followed in 2006 by their fifth studio album ''[[Sound Mirrors]]'', which was quoted as being "one of the most vital and imaginative records Jon Moore and Matt Black have ever made",<ref name="Issues 146-148">{{cite web |title=Issues 146-148 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=33JLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Everything+Is+Under+Control%E2%80%9D+coldcut|work=Mojo|year = 2006|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> and saw the duo "continue, impressively, to find new ways to present political statements through a gamut of pristine electronics and breakbeats" (CITATION: Future Music, 2007). The fascinating array of guest vocalists <ref name="Issues 146-148"/> included [[Soweto Kinch]], [[Annette Peacock]], Ameri Baraka, and [[Saul Williams]]. The latter followed on from Coldcut's remix of Williams' "The Pledge" for a project with [[DJ Spooky]].

A 100-date audiovisual world tour commenced for ''Sound Mirrors'', which was considered "no small feat in terms of technology or human effort".<ref name="autogenerated2006"/> Coldcut was accompanied by scratch DJ Raj Pannu and AV artist Juxta, in addition to guest vocalists from the album, including UK rapper [[Juice Aleem]], [[Roots Manuva]], [[MPHO|Mpho Skeef]], Jon Spencer and house legend [[Robert Owens (musician)|Robert Owens]].

Three further singles were released from the album including the Top 75 hit "True Skool" with [[Roots Manuva]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Coldcut|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/coldcut/|work=Official charts|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> The same track appeared on the [[soundtrack]] of the [[video game]] [[FIFA Street 2]].

Sponsored by the British Council, in 2005 Coldcut introduced AV mixing to India with the Union project, alongside collaborators [[Howie B]] and [[Aki Nawaz]] of [[Fun-Da-Mental]]. Coldcut created an A/V remix of the Bollywood hit movie ''Kal Ho Naa Ho''.

In 2006, Coldcut performed an A/V set based on "Music for 18 Musicians" as part of [[Steve Reich]]'s 70th birthday gig at the [[Barbican Centre]] in London. This was originally written for the 1999 album ''[[Reich Remixed]]''.

Coldcut remixed another classic song in 2007: [[Nina Simone]]'s "Save Me". This was part of a remix album called ''Nina Simone: Remixed & Re-imagined'', featuring remixes from Tony Humphries, [[Francois K]] and [[Chris Coco]].

In February 2007, Coldcut and Mixmaster Morris created a psychedelic AV obituary/tribute Coldcut, [[Mixmaster Morris]], [[Ken Campbell]], [[Bill Drummond]] and [[Alan Moore]] (18 March 2007). [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x366w1_robert-anton-wilson-1-ken-campbell_fun Robert Anton Wilson tribute show]. [[Queen Elizabeth Hall]], London: [[Mixmaster Morris]]. (28 August 2009) to [[Robert Anton Wilson]], the 60s author of [[Illuminatus! Trilogy]]. The tribute featured graphic novel writer [[Alan Moore]] and artist [[Bill Drummond]] and a performance by experimental theatre legend [[Ken Campbell]]. Coldcut and Morris' hour and a half performance resembled a documentary being remixed on the fly, cutting up nearly 15 hours' worth of Wilson's lectures.

In 2008, an international group of party organisers, activists and artists including Coldcut received a grant from the Intelligent Energy Department of the European Union, to create a project that promoted intelligent energy and environmental awareness to the youth of Europe. The result was Energy Union, a piece of VJ cinema, political campaign, music tour, party, art exhibition and social media hub. Energy Union toured 12 EU countries throughout 2009 and 2010, completing 24 events in total. Coldcut created the Energy Union show for the tour, a one-hour Audio/Visual montage on the theme of Intelligent Energy. In presenting new ideas for climate, environmental and energy communication strategies, the Energy Union tour was well received, and reached a widespread audience in cities across the UK, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain and the Czech Republic.

Also in 2008, Coldcut was asked to remix the theme song for British cult TV show ''[[Doctor Who]]'' for the program's 40th anniversary.<ref>{{cite book|title=CMJ New Music Report|date = 18 August 2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B3LxC-059_QC&q=coldcut+%22dr+who%22&pg=PA29|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> In October 2008, Coldcut celebrated the legacy of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop (the place where the Doctor Who theme was created) with a live DJ mix at London's legendary Roundhouse. The live mix incorporated classic Radiophonic Workshop compositions with extended sampling of the original gear.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coldcut via The Radiophonic Workshop|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/electricproms/2008/artists/coldcut/|work=BBC|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref>

Additionally in 2008, Coldcut remixed "Ourselves", a Japanese No. 1 hit from the single "&" by [[Ayumi Hamasaki]]. This mix was included on the album ''[[Ayu-mi-x 6: Gold]]''.

Starting in 2009, Matt Black, with musician/artist/coder Paul Miller (creator of the TX Modular Open Source synth), developed Granul8, a new type of visual fx/source Black termed a "granular video synthesiser". Granul8 allows the use of realtime VJ techniques including video feedback combined with VDMX [[VJing|VJ]] software.

From 2009 onwards, Black has been collaborating with coder and psychedelic mathematician William Rood to create a forthcoming project called Liveloom, a social media AV mixer.

===Recent work===
In 2010, Coldcut celebrated 20 years of releasing music with its label, Ninja Tune. A book entitled ''Ninja Tune: 20 Years of Beats and Pieces'' was released on 12 August 2010, and an exhibition was held at [[Black Dog Publishing]]'s Black Dog Space in London, showcasing artwork, design and photography from the label's 20-year history. A compilation album was released on 20 September in two formats: a regular version consisting of two 2-disc volumes, and a limited edition which contained six CDs, six 7" vinyl singles, a hardback copy of the book, a poster and additional items. Ninja Tune also incorporated a series of international parties. This repositioned Ninja as a continually compelling<ref>{{cite web|title=Various Artists: Ninja Tune XX|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/19/ninja-tune-xx-various-artists-review|work=theguardian|date=18 September 2010|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> and influential<ref>{{cite web|title=Ninja Tune: XX, CD review|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8009888/Ninja-Tune-XX-CD-review.html|work=Telegraph|date=17 September 2010 |access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> label, being one of the "longest-running (and successful) UK indie labels to come out of the late-1980s/early-90s explosion in dance music and hip-hop" (Pitchfork, 28 September 2010). Pitchfork claimed it had a "right to show off a little".<ref>{{cite web|title=Various Artists Ninja Tune XX: 20 Years of Beats and Pieces|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14672-ninja-tune-xx-20-years-of-beats-and-pieces/|work=Pitchfork|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref>

In July 2013, Coldcut produced a piece entitled "D'autre" based on the writings of French poet [[Arthur Rimbaud]], for Forum Des Images in Paris. The following month, in August, Coldcut produced a new soundtrack for a section of André Sauvage's classic film ''Études sur Paris'', which was shown as part of Noise of Art at the [[British Film Institute|BFI]] in London, which celebrated 100 years of electronic music and silent cinema. Coldcut put new music to films from the [[Luigi Russolo|Russolo]] era, incorporating original recordings of Russolo's proto-synths.

In 2014, Coldcut did three soundtracks as part of the project New City, a series of animated skylines of the near future developed by Tomorrow's Thought Today's [[Liam Young]], with accompanying writing from sci-fi authors [[Jeff Noon]], [[Pat Cadigan]] and [[Tim Maughan]].

Most recently, Coldcut released Ninja Jamm, a music making [[App (iPhone)|app]], for Android and iOS, in collaboration with London-based arts and technology firm Seeper. Geared toward both casual listeners and more experienced DJs and music producers, the freemium app allows users to download, remix and make music with samplepacks and tunepacks that feature pro quality sample libraries and also original tracks and mixes by Coldcut, as well as other Ninja artists,<ref>{{cite web|title=Reinventing the remix: British label Ninja Tune releases Jamm app for iPhone, iPad|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/4/11/4212568/reinventing-the-remix-british-label-ninja-tune-releases-jamm-app-for|work=The Verge|date=11 April 2013|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> creating something new altogether.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review: Ninja Jamm App For iPhone|url=http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2013/04/review-ninja-jamm-app-for-iphone/|work=Digital DJ Tips|date=29 April 2013|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> With the "intuitive yet deep" app,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=App review|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1562803/app-review-seepers-remix-app|magazine=Billboard|date=14 May 2013|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> users can turn instruments on and off, swap between clips, add glitches and effects, trigger and pitch-bend stabs and one-off samples, and change the tempo of the track instantly. Users can additionally record as they mix and instantly upload to SoundCloud or save the mixes locally.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beyond Listening: Ninja Tune Launches Ninja Jamm, Opens Artists to Mobile Remix|url=http://createdigitalmusic.com/2013/04/beyond-listening-ninja-tune-launches-ninja-jamm-opens-artists-to-mobile-remix-cdm-exclusive/|work=Create Digital Music|date=11 April 2013|access-date=26 November 2013}}</ref> Tunepack releases for Ninja Jamm are increasingly synchronised with Ninja Tune releases on conventional formats. To date, over 30 tunepacks have been released, including [[Amon Tobin]], [[Bonobo (musician)|Bonobo]], Coldcut, [[DJ Food]], Martyn, Lapalux, [[Machinedrum]], [[Raffertie]], [[Mixmaster Morris|Irresistible Force]], [[FaltyDL]], Shuttle, [[Starkey (artist)|Starkey]]. Ninja Jamm was featured by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] in the New and Noteworthy section of the App Store in the week of release and it received over 100,000 downloads in the first week. Coldcut are developing Ninja Jamm further after the Android release garnered acclaim from the Guardian, Independent, Gizmodo and many more reviewers.

In 2017, Ahead Of Our Time released the album ''Stories From Far Away On Piano'' by [[James Heather]], and also released its follow up in 2022, the album ''Invisible Forces.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-02 |title=James Heather - Stories From Far Away on Piano |url=https://headphonecommute.com/2017/11/02/james-heather-stories-from-far-away-on-piano-ahead-of-our-time/ |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Headphone Commute |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On 6 December 2017, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a play, ''Billie Homeless Dies at the End'' by Tom Kelly with electronic music by Coldcut.

In 2020, Coldcut appeared on the global music/afrobeat album ''[[Keleketla!]]'' (with artists such as [[Tenderlonious]], Tamar Osborn, Sibusile Xaba, Thabang Tabane and Tony Allen), which was released on their Ahead of Our Time Records label.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pf79|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114104053/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pf79|archive-date=14 November 2020|title=BBC Radio 6 Music - Radcliffe and Maconie, Blue Note classics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/03/keleketla-review-ninja-tune|title=Keleketla!: Keleketla! review &#124; Ammar Kalia's global album of the month|date=3 July 2020|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

On 19 November 2021, Ahead of Our Time released an ambient compilation curated out of old and new compositions and extra sequencing with the help of [[Mixmaster Morris]]. The compilation featured music by [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]], [[Julianna Barwick]], [[Daniel Pemberton]], [[Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith]], [[Sigur Rós]], [[Laraaji]] and many more artists, purposefully ranging in prominence.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/30634-coldcut-curate-new-ambient-compilation-for-ninja-tune|title=Coldcut Curate New Ambient Compilation, '@0'|date=5 October 2021|author= Eede, Christian|journal=[[The Quietus]]|access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart<br />positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:85%" | [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited 
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 113}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:85%" | [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="aus chart">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/b5rY4qe | title=Coldcut ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=14 July 2024}}  N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[What's That Noise?]]''
|
* Released: 1989
| 20 || 103
|-
! scope="row" | ''Some Like It Cold''
|
* Released: 1990
|  || 153
|-
! scope="row" | ''Philosophy''
|
* Released: 1993
|  || —
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Let Us Play!]]''
|
* Released: 1997
* Label: Ninja Tune
| 33 || 153
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Sound Mirrors]]''
|
* Released: 2006
| — || —
|-
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:38em;"| Single
! colspan="10"| Peak positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small><br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25451/COLDCUT/ |title=Official Charts Company: Coldcut |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=2014-04-04}}</ref>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Irish Singles Chart|IRE]]</small>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[MegaCharts|NED]]</small>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Ultratop|BEL<br>(FLA)]]</small>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|FRA]]</small>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]</small>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[GfK Entertainment Charts|GER]]</small><br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=coldcut&x=0&y=0&country=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105446/http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=coldcut&x=0&y=0&country=de |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 April 2015 |title=Coldcut - German Chart |publisher=charts.de |access-date=2014-04-03}}</ref>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]</small><ref name="aus chart"/>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Official New Zealand Music Chart|NZ]]</small>
! style="width:35px;"| <small>[[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]</small><br><ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.billboard.com/artist/299515/coldcut/chart?sort=date&f=359 |title= Coldcut - US Dance Club Songs Chart |magazine= billboard|access-date= 2014-07-23}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1987
! scope="row"| "[[Say Kids What Time Is It?]]"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:left;"| Single only
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Beats + Pieces]]" <small>(featuring Floormaster Squeeze)</small>
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="5"| ''What's That Noise?''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1988
! scope="row"| "[[Doctorin' the House]]" <small>(featuring [[Yazz|Yazz & the Plastic Population]])</small>
| 6 || 16 || 20 || 40 || — || 4 || 11 || 45 || 33 || 3
|-
! scope="row"| "Stop This Crazy Thing" <small>(featuring [[Junior Reid]] & the Ahead of Our Time Orchestra)</small>
| 21 || — || 22 || 24 || — || 19 || 28 || 83 || — || 32
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1989
! scope="row"| "[[People Hold On]]" <small>(featuring [[Lisa Stansfield]])</small>
| 11 || — || 37 || 32 || 45 || — || 24 || 78 || 38 || 6
|-
! scope="row"| "[[My Telephone (song)|My Telephone]]" <small>(featuring Lisa Stansfield)</small>
| 52 || — || — || — || — || — || 62 || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Coldcut's Christmas Break"
| 67 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Singles only
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1990
! scope="row"| "Coldcut' Megamix" <small>(France only)</small>
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Find a Way" <small>(featuring [[Queen Latifah]])</small>
| 52 || — || 85 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:left;"| ''Some Like It Cold''
|-
| 1993
! scope="row"| "Dreamer"
| 54 || — || — || — || — || — || — || 107 || — || —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Philosophy''
|-
| 1993
! scope="row"| "Autumn Leaves"
| 50 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1997
! scope="row"| "Atomic Moog 2000 / Boot the System"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Let Us Play!''
|-
! scope="row"| "More Beats + Pieces"
| 37 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1998
! scope="row"| "[[Timber (Coldcut song)|Timber]]" <small>(with [[Hexstatic]])</small>
| 86 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 30 || —
|-
| 2001
! scope="row"| "Re:volution" <small>(as Coldcut & the Guilty Party)</small>
| 67 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:left;"| Single only
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2005
! scope="row"| "Mr. Nichols" <small>(featuring [[Saul Williams]])</small> <small>(promo only)</small>
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="5"| ''Sound Mirrors''
|-
! scope="row"| "Everything Is Under Control" <small>(featuring [[Jon Spencer]] and [[Mike Ladd]])</small>
| 93 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2006
! scope="row"| "[[Man in a Garage]]" <small>(featuring John Matthias)</small>
| 95 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "True Skool" <small>(featuring [[Roots Manuva]])</small>
| 61 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" <small>(featuring [[Robert Owens (musician)|Robert Owens]])</small>
| 103 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 2016
! scope="row"| "Everyday Another Sanction" <small>(as Coldcut x On-U Sound featuring Chezidek)</small>
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:left;"| ''Outside the Echo Chamber''
|-
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.
|}

===Compilations and mix albums===
* ''ColdKrushCuts'' (mixed by Coldcut / [[DJ Food]] + [[DJ Krush]]) (1996)
* ''[[Journeys by DJ: 70 minutes of Madness]]'' (1995)
* ''Let Us Replay!'' (1999)
* ''Cold-Cut-Outs'' (2002)
* ''People Hold On — The Best of Coldcut'' (2004)
* ''Coldcut Selection Deal''
* ''@0'' (with [[Mixmaster Morris]]) (2021)

===Other===
* ''Zen Brakes'' [as ''Bogus Order''] (1990)
* ''Only Heaven EP'' (2016)
* ''Outside the Echo Chamber'' [as ''Coldcut x On-U Sound''] (2017)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://coldcut.net/ Coldcut.net], official site
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p16574}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* [http://www.ninjatune.net/ninja/artist.php?id=3 Ninja Tune: Coldcut]
* [http://r4nt.com/article/interview-with-coldcut/ Interview with Matt Black on R4NT Magazine]
* [http://www.furious.com/perfect/coldcut.html Interview by Iara Lee (Modulations)] at Furious.com

{{Coldcut}}
{{Solid Steel}}
{{DJ Award for Ambient, Chill Out, Down Tempo and Eclectic, Experimental DJ|state=collapsed}} 
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:English electronic music duos]]
[[Category:English hip-hop groups]]
[[Category:British record production teams]]
[[Category:Record production duos]]
[[Category:English male musical duos]]
[[Category:Electronic music groups from London]]
[[Category:Ninja Tune artists]]
[[Category:Tommy Boy Records artists]]
[[Category:Big Life artists]]