Music / NewsWatch 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, 2014MusicNewsText Thomas 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. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 30,000+ creatives from around the world.TrendingPure Sex: Photos from the relaunch of the cult 80s goth brandThe newly revived Pure Sex England has teamed up with iconic club night Batcave, and we met the minds behind the next era of gothFashionArt & PhotographyIn pictures: Wet hot summers at Berlin’s iconic inner-city pool Aveda BeautyAveda is kicking off healthy hair summerFashionPhotos of the ‘techno sluts’ at Berlin’s all-day runway raveBeauty10 of the hottest Instagram accounts fusing art, sex and eroticaBeautyWhy are women now talking like looksmaxxers?MusicSyd: ‘America is worth fighting for – I’m not leaving’MusicThe Dazed team select their favourite albums of 2026 so far FashionBarry Jenkins on directing Prada: ‘We wanted something a little bit deeper’Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy