MusicNewsWatch Keith Flint and Richard Russell talk raveAs part of XL Recordings' 25th birthday celebrations, label boss Richard Russell and Prodigy icon Keith Flint discuss how rave culture influenced their musical outlookShareLink copied ✔️August 5, 2014MusicNewsTextThomas Gorton XL has always been a label that pioneers, an outpost for genre-bending outsiders with an ability to conquer the mainstream. Led by Richard Russell, the label boasts an impressive timeline of releases dating from its inception in 1989 through to 2014. Whether it be the rave madness of The Prodigy, Dizzee's pent-up grime or Thom Yorke's futuristic beats, XL has consistently shown a deftness in inflitrating music's mainstream with bold, weird and wonderful artists. This year XL turns 25. To celebrate, the label is releasing a 2-disc compilation that showcases the far-reaching spectrum of XL's releases. Disc 1 pays homage to London old and new, featuring Wiley, Dizzee and Jamie XX amongst others. Disc 2 is a straight up, pure-as-you-like collection of out and out XL bangers, from "Paper Planes" to "Rolling In The Deep". Below you can check out XL label boss Richard Russell in conversation with The Prodigy's totemic Keith Flint discussing the heady days of rave. Head to the Pay Close Attention website to order the compilation and see more XL films. Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREHow Turnstile are reinventing hardcore for the internet ageWill these be the biggest musical moments of 2026?Rising singer Liim is the crooning voice of New York CityFrench producer Malibu is an ambient antidote for the chronically online10 musicians to watch in 202610 great albums you may have missed in the last three monthsZukovstheworld on the UK Ug scene: ‘It’s modern pop music’The only tracks you need to hear from December 202511 alt Christmas anthems for the miserable and brokenhearted Last Days: The opera exploring the myth of Kurt CobainHow hip-hop is shaping the fight for Taiwan’s futureNew York indie band Boyish: ‘Fuck the TERFs and fuck Elon Musk’