Fat Controller – In Complete Darkness – 1993
In my top 5 ever. Although uncredited on the vinyl this was engineered by the man, Slipmatt. Samples used for this monster:
- Rollo Goes Camping – Get off Your High Horse (Big, Bold Brassy Mix)
- Janet Jackson – Interlude: Livin’… In Complete Darkness
- Severed Head – Greater Reward (Dub)
- Eddie Bo – Lover and a Friend” (Drums)
‘Rollo Armstrong‘ is the older brother of ‘Dido‘ who worked with ‘Eminem‘ on ‘Stan‘. There it is, the rave music link to Eminem, that wasn’t on your bingo card was it?
The Prodigy – No Good (Start the Dance) – 1994
My favourite EVER Prodigy track. The main vocal sampled from ‘Kelly Charles – You’re No Good For Me‘ from 1987 and the bassline from ‘Funky Nassau- Beginning of the End” from 1971. The synths on this track are spine tingling. RIP Keef.
Urban Shakedown feat. Micky Finn – Some Justice – 1992
Urban Shakedown were Gavin King (better known as Aphrodite), and Claudio Giussani. ‘Some Justice‘ was written using two hooked up Amiga computers (love the Amiga, Shadow of the Beast anyone?) this classic rave anthem was played to death in 1992. Legendary rave DJ, Micky Finn also lending his talents to this one.
Sy-Kick – Upside – 1992
Sy-Kick were Bradley Carter and Mark French. Upside was a B-Side on the ‘Nasty Remix E.P’. The lyrics were actually taken from a classic electro tune from 1983 called ‘On the Upside‘ by Xena. This is a stomping breaks driven piano classic.
Release – Dance in Eden – 1992
‘Release‘ aka Nigel Broad and DJ Rush Puppie released this monster firing hardcore tune in 1992 that got played everywhere. Banging drums, deadly rave stabs and a spine tingling synth session secured this as one of the biggest tunes of the year.
E-Zee Possee – Everything Starts With An ‘E’ – 1989
Proper old school here coming out of the acid house days this utter classic was made by Caron Geary, Derek Green, Simon Rogers and the legendary Jeremy Healy. The main hook of the tune was actually a rework of the theme from the tv series ‘Robinson Crusoe Suite‘ from 1964, that is some rare sampling! What a classic track that laid the foundations for what was to come from the rave sound.
Zero B – Module – 1991
Although being the title track on the 4-track E.P., Module lost out to Lock Up as being the most popular, I always preferred this however. A banging ’91 rave stab stomper that the late and great Stu Allan used to cane around the country.
The Scientist – Spiral Symphony – (The Magic Synthony In C Minor) – 1991 – ‘The Scientist’ was none other than the legendary DJ Hype, making tunes under this name back in 1991, this one really blew my mind back then, way ahead of its time.