Way back when I started this blog, one of the first EPs I featured was by Nick Ball. While I don’t know who this EP is by (no idea who Emanuel is), Nick Ball is listed as one of the producers on it. Both sides of this EP are strong tracks, with this side being the darker of the two – perhaps a bit reminiscent of Formation Recs releases of the time, though the beat production is different. Speaking of which, anyone care to ID the amen used here, with the little rolling fill at the end? I believe it’s also used in Yolk “Bish Bosh”, so I’m not sure whether this track sampled that, or if this version of the amen is off some “Beats n breaks” record. Emanuel – Internal Mind
Here’s an EP that I’m a bit hesitant to post since it’s such a top personal fav, but it still manages to stay under a lot of people’s radar – I would almost rather eventually drop it in a mix or something like that. But, it’s been ages since I recorded an oldskool mix, so here you go. DJ Massive did a BUNCH of cool EPs before disappearing off the face of the earth (anyone with contact info for him – PLEASE CONTACT ME!!). This EP is arguably my favorite by him. Ironically it’s the second track on each side which is the top pick for me – on the A side you have “Slammin”, a frantic almost happy hardcore sounding track which Easygroove dropped in Dreamscape VII to devastating result. And on the B side, you have this absolutely awesome proto-ragga jungle track – similarly hyperfast dense breaks coupled with ragga vocals that don’t let up. absolutely sick tune, A+++ / good communication / would buy from again, etc.
Trying to make up for the weeks of lazy posting, here’s another nice tune – this time some stripped down 91 hardcore. This track is way more basic than what I usually like, but it more than does the trick – a simple breakbeat, a catchy vocal sample (”get up, feel the dancefloor justice!”) and an even catchier piano part… good stuff!! I originally thought this was by the Boogie Beat artist Kenetic, but Discogs is claiming it’s by the same guy (Michael Hazell) who did the awesome Golden Girls “Kinetic” EP with Phil Hartnoll of Orbital. Kinetic – Dancefloor Justice
I’ve been slack on posting releases lately, to make up for it here’s a darkside fav. Choppy beats, classic horror movie samples, and a nasty timestretched breakdown at 4:15 which is one of the sickest this side of Grooverider’s Sinister (Influence Mix) or DJ SS’s Nightstalker remix. Clocking in at over 8 minutes counting the intro and outro samples, this track is pretty epic. maybe more appropriate for mixing than for home listening. Still, it’s well structured and has a fair number of changeups which keep it interesting. Definitely one worth seeking out.
Here’s another one of those “how could I have gone 2 years without posting it” yet tracks. This one is by Simon Ratcliffe of Basement Jaxx, and is one of THE most essential hardcore whitelabels. The production is pretty low fi, but fits the track fine – a haunting piano loop, a multitude of break layers (probably too many – a regular amen, nwa-men, funky nassau and at least 2-3 more standard breaks I forget the names of and am too lazy to go hunting for now), a deep breakdown partway through which segues back into the tough-as-nails main part. This is simply a great hardcore track that doesn’t need razor sharp modern production to get its point across!
Since the track is pretty low fi, I tried re-eqing it a bit and running it through a bit of compression – feel free to let me know if this sounds too squashed and I’ll hold off doing it from future tracks. Also, despite the lowfi track sound, my copy of this is in suprisingly good shape – if anyone is aware of a bootleg pressing (which had the original logo) and of any ways to differentiate, please let me know in the comments, since I’d love to know if mine is original or not.
Note: todays entry comes from the jungle producer 0=0. A month back, I received the following email:
Subject: hey guy…
i wanna contribute to the blog..
j
0=0
Nice and to the point, huh? No “hey how’s it going / digging your blog” formalities for this guy!! Anyway, knowing J’s tendency to not follow through on a lot of stuff but also knowing he’s a serious oldskool nerd,
I wrote back telling him “sure, send me stuff and I’ll post it” Didn’t hear anything back until a few days ago where I got this entry in my inbox. Hopefully there will be more to come!
Hey! First upload from me. (although Pete didn’t give me access to his back-end, sadly) I’ve been wanting to contribute to this wicked site for a while now. This is one of my favorite records ever. I found it in Bizzy B’s addict (a wonderful place to search for the holy grail). I love how it’s so apparent that it was made with turntables and an akai – pure poetry. An awesome dancefloor murdering offering from the same people that brought us that massive jam “Ladies with an Attitude” by Epitome of Hype. I haven’t heard anything else from this O.u.t.r.a.g.e artist. It’s a pretty obscure release (my copy says “limited to 300″). There is even a really funny amen track (1991!) on it but this “Inside My Head (From my Hands)” tune takes the cake with it’s scratched up Cuba Gooding “Happiness is just around the Bend” acapellas (listen to how chewed one copy of the record he’s juggling is compared to the other). It’s just raw. – J 0=0
Been a bit lazy about posting this week, so here’s a sick obscure whitelabel to make up for it. Absolutely no idea about the artist behind it, but both sides smash it! Tracks have quite a few little changeups and combine a more techno hardcorey sound with quality breakbeats. Maybe not my typical favorite style of stuff but a really nice single nonetheless. Also, both tracks are high quality instead of there being just one strong side. Existence – Zebra
I’ve had this tune stuck in my head for a week now…. haunting 94 jungle which uses that “let me know” acapella, adding a somber melody which fits the vocal perfectly – an excellent combo which more than compensates for the less than exciting (but still decent) break programming. What makes this so special is that the acapella in of itself sounds a bit “eh” in my opinion… other tunes I’ve heard it in (Da Maytrix “Let Me Know” and Sy and Eruption “12″ of Love”) end up being a bit cheddared up by its inclusion. However, the simple melody in this track, coupled with ominous stabs ala tango/ratty/early formation records, really transform the vocal into something a bit “deeper” sounding. All in all, an excellent jungle track which I think is heavily underrated. If anyone knows who that original vocal is by, please leave a comment below.
Crackles and pops left in because my copy is a bit battered, also this one goes for less than 5 quid so if you like it & want better quality, go buy a copy ya cheapo!
Here’s one of my favorite EPs on Ruff Quality. DJ Dextrous is better known for his later jungle tracks circa 94-95 on labels like Jet Star, Renk and Suburban Base… this cut is significantly earlier but not too different in style – good ragga sounds combined with quality beats and (in this track’s case) bleepy melody. Both mixes on this EP are pretty similar but I like this remix a bit more, it brings in the main melody sooner.
Here’s a classic Photek amen smasher under his “System X” alias – unlike his later more technical stuff, this track is more dancefloor, relatively straightahead 94 stuff with a great vocal hook. It was featured on the “Illegal Pirate Radio Vol 3″ comp, and while not being as choppy or rhythmically interesting as some of his other tunes, is pretty much essential when it comes to nasty 93-94 amen tracks. Not much more to say about it, other than the rip sounds a little bit ropey in the midrange since my needles are on their last legs… will be buying new ones in time for my next rip, I promise! System X – Got To Believe
Attn labels/artists featured on this blog: I run this because I love your music and want more people to know about it. If you want your track(s) removed, just email me at and I will remove them right away.
and I will remove them right away. 
