Last weeks show ended up as a 2 hour old skool special. I already have a couple of old skool mixes floating around on the interweb and i tried (a bit) not to use many of the same records...Although invariably some of the all-time favourites sneaked in there again.. There's quite a lot of history on this mix so i've written a kind of extended tracklist which hopefully some of you might find of interest ..
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Tracklist:
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1. Lost "The Gonzo" (1990) :
This was the first ever released music by Steve Bicknell in 1990 .. Yes.. that Steve Bicknell who run's the "Lost" clubnight and the "Cosmic" label and who was almost single handedly responsible for bringing Jeff Mills to UK audiences. Oh, and it's on Perfecto, Paul Oakenfold's label.. You could say this was near the beginning of it all before the scene fragmented and split into house, techno, rave, jungle, hardcore etc...
2. Waveform "Bitches and money" (1992):
I knew absolutely nothing about this record or it's artist since i bought it in '92 until about 5 minutes ago when i checked and apparently it's by Nick Power, owner of the now long defunct 'power music' record shop in Essex
3. Epitome of hype "Ladies with an attitude" (1991):
This one is by one of my favourite crews.. It's an alias of London Ruffnecks The Blapps Posse who hit it big back then with "Bus it" and "Don't hold back" on their own Blapps records... They always had that hiphop thing going on and this is one of their few tunes from back then with no rapping on it.. Cited as a massive influence by the whole Baltimore breaks sound, these lot haven't been heard of for years now.. unless you count the excellent output as The London Funk Allstars on Ninja Tune and their more well known guise, The Freestylers!
4. DJ D D Hass "Hitech music" (1991):
Well, what to say about this one.. its a Monster, True power and for anyone who doesn't get why this music was called Hardcore, then this is a good example..
5. DJ Massive "Massive Overload" (1991):
DJ Massive was one of the DJ's who used to spin on Fantasy FM (which was the station responsible for opening my eyes too all this electronic music).. Other jocks on Fantasy were DJ Hype, DJ Rap, Krome, ShadowFax... the list goes on.. They used to play everything from house, techno and rave to newbeat, hiphop and britcore.. MASSIVE respect.. Although this tune isn't amazing, it's a nice little roller and holds it's own. Released by Black Market, one of very few London record shops that have held it down since day dot until the present.
6. D.M.S. "Exterminate" (1991):
.. released by Production House which in it's time held down a pretty impressive classics to duds ratio! For a '91 tune it's quite forward thinking and almost straddles what was to become the divide a year later between the 'fluff' and the 'dark'
7. Destroyer "Senses" (1991):
Euro hardcore, from Belgium.. Tune!
8. Code 071 "Stand together" (1992):
Haven't been keeping an eye on what Reinforced Records are releasing these days but back in 1990-1992 every release was gold! This whole record has that jungle feel without being actual jungle but was definately moving in a certain direction, the other side in particular.
9. FZ !! (Forbidden zone) (1991):
Right. This one is a true Mystery.. An absolute belter of a track that samples . Definately one of the best of breed.. Orange Label with big black "FZ".. and thats it. No Info. Anywhere. And it's all the better for it!
10. Armageddon "Raybone" (1991):
If it wasn't the first it was very nearly the first Production by drum n bassist Ray Keith
11. C.Y.B.E.R.F.U.N.K. "Live at the Wunderbar" (1991):
This one was from Germany and was a kind of 'megamix' of recent big hitters with samples lifted from amongst others, Quadrophonia, N-Joi and Homeboy Hippy and a Funky Dredd..
12. Rabbit City "Digital Domain" (1992):
Colin Faver was massively important in the growth of techno in the UK with his weekly techno show on Kiss FM. This was his label, and probably his production too. I was gonna play Rabbit City 001 but went for this one instead. Anyone looking to buy an oldskool fan a birthday present, just buy Rabbit City 001 and if they hadn't got it already i promise you they'll not be dissapointed.
13. Dave Charlesworth "The Energizer"(1) (1991):
Ho Ho Ho... Of all the Energizer series, This is the one you want.. The other side's a medley of all the hardest core tracks from that era and although this track borrows from many (Richie Hawtin, Dan Bell and John Aquaviva's Cybersonik - "Technarchy" seems to have been chopped up to form the main bass ) it really is a beast that stands head and shoulders above others.
14. The Psychopaths "Killer Mummy" (1991):
Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, Ruff.. This is the dub mix which is raw to the core
15. Easymo "Cut and Run" (1991):
Wicked tune on D-Zone records.. This is the only ep released under this name although many know him better (and later on) as Badmarsh one half of Badmarsh and Shri , recording on Outcaste records.. See my other review HERE for more details.
16. Mind of Kane "Stabbed in the back" (1991):
Danger. This tune is proper Hardcore. Absolutely no residue of cheese whatsoever. Absolutely none. At. All.
17. G double E "G Theme part 2" (1991):
As far as i'm concerned, everything touched by G double E is Greatness. This is my favourite of theirs, on another great label "Hardcore Urban Music" ..so many influences in there, from classic electro right through ska and hip hop, but all Ruff to the bone. Is it any suprise that amongst their number is one Mr. Kris Bones AKA Uzi da Fluzi AKA Genocide II?
18. Trigger "Stratosphere" (1991):
More European hardcore here, This is another name used by the guys behind Destroyer (see track 7)
19. Supermatic "Open your mind" (1991):
Something about this Dutch track really gets me everytime... it's such a slick production, the way everything just glides along it's as if it's been waxed!
20. Cosmo & Dibs "Star Eyes" (1991):
I never usually play this one cos back when it was released it got utterly cained.. No wonder! It's such a great track and i think enough time's passed to bring it out again. The Moving Shadow crew on top form. Label owner Rob Playford being half of this duo , who was also a member of 2 Bad Mice, Kaotic Chemistry and Metalheadz.
21. Angel "Sweet Dreams" (Nightmare mix) (1990):
This was the track responsible for bring us another Giant of the UK techno scene, Dave Angel. This was his first ever release, and in my opinion his masterpiece, a complete reworking of The Eurithmics' "Sweet Dreams" (officially approved i believe) Doesn't put a foot wrong for the entire duration and has that meloncholic feel to it that somehow just transports you back in time . A++++
22. The Psychopaths "Nightmares" (1991):
More from the same duo that produced as the psychopaths (track 14) this was one of my favourites amongst a slew of horror film sampling tunes around that time.. One, Two, Freddy's coming for you....
23. The Unknown "Psycho" (1991):
Whomp. There it is. This is definately in my top 10 all time hardcore tracks.. when that last bit hits.. So so good. One of the less techno releases on Hithouse and Well worth tracking down for the other tracks too..
24. Shades of Rhythm "Armageddon" (1991):
Never was that into Shades of Rhythm (except for Homicide/Exorcist), but this track holds a certain charm with it's nerdy 'i can't think why we haven't thought of this before' vocal and eyes to the back of your head audio 'gurning' effect.. These days they can be found peddling their 'new skool breaks' as the Drummatic Twins on the popular Fingerlickin label.
25. D'Bounce "Power within" (1992):
This is the debut release from the man like Nicky Blackmarket ! Not a great deal to see here except for a ruff bass/break combination that rolls along very nicely thanks very much.
26. Unknown "BPSI ep" (1992):
Slightly mysterious white label, ruff as arseholes with the looping point slightly off on the break causing me discomfort but all part of it's charm i guess!
27. G Double E "B-line from hell" (1991):
Did i mention i'm a fan of G Double E?
28. Sykosis 451 "Tornado" (1992):
Not the one they're (not really) famous for but this is so techno and rolls along with a really oldskool 'hi-tech' feel to it. very english somehow...
29. Sykosis 451 "Hurricane" (1991):
This IS the one. Techno techno techno... but it's breakbeat! Yes! So utterly simple yet so perfect in every way. They don't make em like this anymore...
30. Sykosis 451 "Hurricane" '92 Remix (1992):
Not actually a massive fan of this version but i thought i'd give it a pop anyway, exact same structure as the original mix except they substituted the great sounds for shitty sounds..
31. Autommation "Pacemaker" (1991):
WIcked 6 track whitelabel of which i managed to end up with 3 copies (music and video exchange) and stupidly forced 2 of them on friends in the early 90's and now wish i'd kept them as its the sort of ep that is truely individual and brings back good memories my early record digging years.. There's also a track on it called "eat the bee" which involves a frog eating a bee..
32. Holy Noise "Father forgive them" (1990):
Hithouse Records in full effect , and this was the FIRST usage of the AMEN BREAK in non-hiphop music. Ruff Tune...
33. Charlie says "Bass n Buzz" (1991):
More from Rob Playford.. I remember hearing the Prodigy "Charly Says" on pirate radio and being absolutely Blown away by it.. I then remember the longest wait ever for it to be officially released before i could own it (presumably while they tussled for a deal with XL records). I have a feeling that this track might have been released during that time where everyone was searching in the shops for the Prodigy's track as a cunning yet decietful ploy to ensnare people who'd buy it believing it to be the other track... but thats just a theory.. This track boasts some killer dubwise bass and a kind of 'hitman and her' obvious riff that works purely cos of the massive bass..
34. Indo Tribe "Owl" (1991):
Future Sound of London under one of many alias'.. On the same record as Smart Systems "Tingler" which is among my top all timers..
35. Digital Boy "Rotation" (1991):
This one just reeks of it's era.. Lovely squeltchy acid and pummeling hardcore beats. He's Italian and this track's on Italian label Flyin'
36. Rhythm Device "Acid Rock" (1989):
Another one that was raving ahead of it's time, this time it's one of the earliest productions of Techno/Newbeat pioneer Frank De Wulf.. This one's there for you Forshaw ;)
37. N.W.A. "Panic Zone" (1988):
What? Dr. Dre made this track?! .. Yes, it's True.. NWA in full effect with The Arabian Prince. Amazing old skool electro track
38. Egyptian Empire "The Horn Track" (1992):
Speeding it up now, this one was Massive, and still is... not everyone knows though that it was made by Missile Records boss, Tim Taylor and produced by old sparring partner Dan Zamani (Planet of Drums, Pump Panel etc...)
39. Noise Factory "Behold the Jungle" (1992)
Just another one that brings back memories... roving bassline and hectic atmosphere.. to my ears, it's not cheesy but i have a sneaking suspicion that actually... it is.. you know? one of those. This was already testing the limits of my tastes for old hardcore and round about the time this one was released the music was starting to go different directions from the stuff i enjoyed,, still all good things must come to an end, and for many people, the direction it was taking was exactly where they wanted to go. Swings and Roundabouts!
40. 4 Hero "Cookin Up ya Brain" (Sonz of da loop da loop era - remix) (1992):
One of the last records on Reinforced that did it for me in any way, the last being 4 Hero's "Journey from the Light EP".. 4 Hero could do no wrong ever since Mr. Kirk's Nightmare.. This remix was by Danny Breaks of Suburban Base records who added more of a 'happy' slant edging towards that fairground sound that put me off for good and later became 'happy hardcore'
41. Nebula II "Xplore H-core" (1992):
Monster Tune. Reinforced records hits it again. This record is a gem. Couldn't decide which side to play as they're both tunes! Buy on sight...
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