Mr. Scruff

Mr. Scruff is the alias of Andrew Carthy, a Manchester-based DJ and producer who started putting out music in the early 1990s. His sound pulls from acid jazz, funk, and soul, often built around samples and laid-back tempos. In 1999 he released his self-titled debut album, which included the track "Fish." That song, with its watery bassline and drifting atmosphere, became something of a calling card for his approach.

He's kept at it as a mostly solo operation, putting out records like Keep It Unreal in 2002 and Ninja Tuna in 2008. The music doesn't chase trends so much as it circles back to those warm, sample-based grooves. There's a consistency to it that has built a following without much fuss.