Here’s yet another heavily under-appreciated gem: Count Zero’s “Inner Fury” EP on SDI. Written by DJ Massive under a one-off alias (perhaps because it’s a bit of a stylistic departure for him), this 4 tracker has got great sinister catchy synth lines, nice hiphop vocals cuts (MC Duke in this track), and beats which are a mixture of choppy breaks and 4/4 stomp, ala early Happy Hardcore… though there’s nothing happy about this release.
Unlike some 4-trackers which have one great track and a few throwaways, all four tracks on this EP are sick. Top two standouts are the track posted here (a1. “Inner Fury”) and B2 (“Nightmare”). “Nightmare” has a similar style to “Inner Fury”, but uses a classic Big Daddy Kane vocal line.
Despite the wicked tunage on this EP, it’s currently rated below 4.0 on Discogs and has numerous copies for sale in the 2-4 pound range. In comparison, that Smokey Joe EPI on SDI with the “I am calling you” vocal is “want”ed by 8 times as many people, rated near 5 and goes for around 200 quid. I like the tunes on that EP as well, but still… 😕
As a final note, I’ve been trying to track down DJ Massive to interview on this site for a while now… if anyone has any contact info or leads, please drop me a line.
You’re absolutely right, Pete! I have wondered many times why this is so underrated? I’ve been caining it to the death since it was released.. 🙂
DJ Massive has certainly done better IMO. I’d like it more if it was pure breakbeats. good to know my copy got a better home though 😉
ah,see the fact that it has breaks AND 4/4 kick is what makes it special to me – plenty of other good singles which are either or. Different strokes for different folks though.
wicked track mate, please post the rest of this EP, I do remember DJ Seduction playing this once or twice back in the day
I don’t want to post whole EPs especially when copies are for sale for only 2-3 pounds (less than the price of a 4 track 302kb mp3 release).
Alright mate,
Love your blog. This tune is by one of my my old mates, and its not the DJ Massive that you’re thinking of. If you check the label closely you’ll see that this is by DJ Massive C. – Alan Clark to his pals – who was in PSI Division prior to making this e.p., and went on to form Elementz Of Noize with Jus (who’s also named on the label). This tunes a belter – I well us all doing a p.a. at the Calton Club in Edinburgh (I was the asked dancer! – hilarious!)
Cheers, Slev
PS Carl Cox used to cane it.
Awesome, thanks for the info. I figured it was the same one since DJ Massive (without the C) also had a release on SDI. I’ll try to correct the entry on discogs when I get a chance.
Had no idea this EP was by 1/2 of Elements of Noize…
Ah, that’ll be the ‘The Neuromancer EP’ (SDI 001) – understandable as its attributed to DJ Massive on discogs. That one’s wrong too, and this ep was also produced by Massive C. If you look closely at the label it says ‘Produced & arranged by DJ Massive © for TD Productions’. The copyright symbol is actually a C. SDI were a small Newcastle based label. Hope that makes sense. Cheers
I “knew” it all these years, that this one is definitely NOT DJ Massive as we know.. SLEV , you really made my day, cheeers.. 😉