3rd Edge may well be exactly what you've been waiting for, if you're into urban/garage bands. Rnr n A talented young trio, all under 22, hailing straight out of Gillingham, their debut single is a fresh and funky blend of UK garage and R&B, called 'In & Out' that'll set more than dancefloors alight this summer. Rnr n Popular with many of the UK's dancefloor tastemakers, 'In & Out' is a feisty, soulful mix of urban flavas that manages to find that perfect, and often elusive, balance between the underground and overground garage/R&B scenes. I remember dancing to it last weekend when I went clubbing! Rnr n Check the lads out at their official site. http://www.3rdedge.co.uk. Rnr nTheir debut offering is out in shops now so snatch yourself a copy while stocks last.

Released on Tuesday 27th August 2002
Label : parlophone

Garidge with smooth vocals.
Smart soul with rave breaks and a classic hooky bass.
3rd Edge met in Gillingham, Kent, centre of, uh?!, a bedroom studio and not much else.
Which may be a good thing as it gave them a chance to streamline their production.
It's kind of swingbeat in the lyric front.
'In and Out' is a bit of an Astanga yoga session; dynamic, aerobic and like a peacock display of sexuality and musical capability rather than a long, sexy decent 'In and Out' session.
There's a comedy MC break, 'Come on and get down to the bass drum'.
It's quite cheesy but it's an upbeat tune for the dance floor, this may not be the hit record yet, but we look forward to the next instalment, where their prowess is said to spread to new genres.
3rd Edge are a new name to watch for and by the end of the week they should have their first Top 20 under their belt.
Click on the link above to watch the video for their debut single 'In and Out'.
The trio - 22 year olds Thomas, Dan, and J Tee - met in a Gillingham club in 2000 and since then have been working together releasing their debut single this week.
Best described as a blend of UK garage, pop, R & B, hip hop and soul, 3rd Edge seemed to have struck gold in the clubs with 'In And Out' becoming a firm favourite from white label stage to the present day.
Expect to hear a lot more of 3rd Edge in the coming months.
For more info on the band check out their official site
For those who are all clued up on 3rd Edge, this release of their debut single will no doubt come as long in the waiting, but for those not in the know here’s a little bio on the trio. 3rd Edge consists of 2 MC vocalists and a DJ. Having met two years ago in a Garage club in Gillingham they set about creating their own meld of UK Urban music, and now here they are ready their debut single.

Having heard this track endlessly on the radio for the past few weeks, I must say this is a disadvantage to them (you know the score - commercial radio rinses out a track so much that it begins to annoy you even though you liked it at first). But having said that, I do still think this track has a lot of merits to it. It’s a fresh wave of talent from an industry in trouble and thirsting for some new artistic talent. The MCing is impressive and clear (unlike a lot of so-called ‘lyrically-talented’ MCs out there) and the DJs mixing abilities are of premium skill level (although as is the case with single edits it might not be so apparent in this particular track) and they are definitely a trio to watch on the UK music scene.

The actual track to me fits the more Pop side of the UK Urban music genre with its catchy beat and clear and inoffensive vocals, and I doubt the majority of hardcore hip-hop, garage or street music will take this to their hearts but then again I am sure this track will be played quite a few time to come on the radio and the majority of UK Urban music playing clubs.

Funnily enough, upon first listening to this track, the image of an exercise class sweating to this came to mind… don’t ask! I wouldn’t peg this off to be a chart topper but top 10 I reckon it will manage. Not bad…but then not the best.
(2½/5)