Posts Tagged ‘1993’

Foul Play Productions – Finest Illusion

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Here’s a real treat… one of the most revered and in-demand oldskool tracks out there. Despite having several pressings, this track is somewhat scarce due to the fact that it was recalled (on account of the uncleared S.O.S. Band sample). It was later released as a “legal” version on Moving Shadow with the SOS Band sample removed, spiffed up quite nicely with extra synth work and a sharper mix… still, this original version is the one that most people seem to be after. It took me years to find a vinyl copy since it usually goes for stupid money, but I managed to nab this for “only” £20.

I don’t think I need to spend time explaining who Foul Play are, search my site and check the amazing track I posted from “vol 1″, then go check out their various releases on itunes/juno/beatport/discogs/ebay, as they put out quite a number of great tunes. Then check out Steve Gurley’s solo garage work, the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse releases, etc. etc. In addition to this great A-side track, The B side of this EP is absolutely wicked as well. I actually thought about posting that instead, but figured I’d have to be a real bastard to do that.

I guess I’m tempting the fates a bit by posting this track, since it’s connected to (but not technically on) Moving Shadow… I really try to steer clear of posting releases on this site from labels which sell tunes online (Shadow, Sub Base, Reinforced), since I don’t want to take away from their sales / get sued. That being said, I double checked and this one is not for sale anywhere, and most likely will never be for sale due to the uncleared sample… so I’m assuming it’s safe to post.

Foul Play Productions – Finest Illusion

Apologies for the sound quality, my copy is a bit battered and the pressing on the original isn’t exactly stellar. Still I think it’s definitely listenable, anybody who has a problem with it can go nab the £ 90.00 NM copy on discogs….

Count Zero – Inner Fury

Monday, July 12th, 2010

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… :?



Count Zero – Inner Fury

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.

Dexxtrous – Something Out There

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

It amazes me that as many years as I’ve been collecting oldskool and as nerdy as I’ve been about it , I still find plenty of crazy tracks that I never had any idea about. Not just obscure white label stuff either, but tracks on relatively big labels, or by well known artist. Not sure where this track has been all my life, but I’m glad to know about it now! “Something Out there” is an excellent 93 dark jungle/hardcore track with grimey sinister synths, pitch shifted breaks, reversed samples, THE WORKS. This track’s author (Dexxtrous) is not to be confused with DJ Dextrous. In fact this EP is actually by J Majik, who did some blindingly essential bits on Metalheadz and whose Slow Motion album is one of my favorite dnb albums of all time. The label behind this release (Planet Earth) is more well known for their Lemon D EPs, which I’ll probably get around to posting at some point..

Props to Imaginary Forces for ID’ing this one for me a while back.. Hey I.F.: if you’re reading this, send me a link to that oldschool mix and I’ll post it here!


Dexxtrous – Somethin Out There

MC Jay J and Devious D – Sensational Jungalist

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Here’s a favorite of mine from the not-incorrectly-titled Awesome Records label run by Slipmatt and Lime. “Time of Our Lives” was maybe the bigger track on this, and was previously released on another EP with another favorite tune of mine, “Drive Ya Crazy”. However, “Sensational Jungalist” is my pick on this release – great ragga vocals which I’m sure Droid can fill us in on (General Levy?), rave synths, nice unusual breaks (Cold Sweat + some others I don’t know), some big horn samples which I think became more widely used after this track (circa 94-95). In general, lots of great “stuff” which changes up fairly regularly and easily holds your attention for the track’s four minutes.

MC Jay J & Devious D – Sensational Jungalist

Freddy Fuddpukker – Keep the Love Alive

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

Sorry for the delay in posting rips, been pretty busy lately. Trying to get going on these again though, so here’s a quality track to start things back up. Freddy Fudpukker is aka Cloud 9, who we all know for “Got me burnin’” and “Gonna be alright”. This tune isn’t as anthemy as those, instead combining off-kilter melodies with solid breaks accented by pitch shifted timpani hits. “Keep The Love Alive” was released on Symphony Sounds, known best for the Neuromancer – “Pennywise” EP + remixes, but who did plenty of other great EPs (which I somehow haven’t managed to post yet…doh!)

Freddy Fudpukker – Keep The Love Alive (Baby Bonny Mix)

Liquid Aliens – Are You Sure We’ll Be OK?

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

Liquid Wax is a relatively underrated labell in my opinion. Everyone knows “never try the hippodrome” (at least I hope they do), but a lot of their later tracks are relatively obscure. I guess it makes sense since most of these later tracks aren’t as “anthemy” as hippodrome, but they are great very well produced tracks nonetheless, a lot of which definitely grow on you after repeat listens. Case in point – this EP, which is one of the pricier of the liquid wax EPs. It’s a solid amen track, no aspects that really stand out immediately other than the absolutely filthy bass ala Tango + Ratty. However, listening to this in mixes (especially the Micky Finn “getting thin w/ the finn vol 2″ which is one of my favorites), it really grew on me over time. I managed to pick this up in a Baltimore bargain bin a couple of weeks ago, so my score is now yours for the downloading :)

Liquid Aliens – Are You Sure We’ll Be OK?

Universe Tribal Gathering 1993

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Auto-plex – Rebel Call

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Here’s a nice EP I’ve had sitting in the pile for quite a while. The tracks are pretty varied in sound, with this tune containing the most memorable melody. Overall though, some of the production on this EP sounds a bit dated for 1993. No idea about the artists other than their names (Ian and Neil Rickard) and the fact that they did one other EP on NMI.

Auto-plex – Rebel Call

Timelike – Forever

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Here’s a pretty underrated track in my opinion. I can understand why it’s not heavily sought after, since it’s not exactly a massive catchy anthem or anything. Still, the programming is pretty crazy in this – quite a few interesting changeups etc. I definitely prefer this EP to The Timelike EP on Big Giant, and there’s a copy of this EP currently selling for 3 quid, so someone nab it! I should mention the other track on this has some pretty dodgy clanging beats, but that adds to the madness and I’m sure is actually a plus (or at least not a deal-breaker) for some listeners :)

Timelike – Forever

Clarky & Dillinja – Dark Science

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

It’s been a while since I posted something proper rare, so here’s a hard-to-find one-sided EP by Dillinja and Clarky. Dillinja needs no introduction, Clarky is actually one member of Defender who I posted a track by a few days ago.. “Dark Science” does what it says on the label, and is a solid slice of 93 darkcore. The other track on this EP is absolutely mental rave stab madness with crazy beats that get off time in points and drop right on that thin line between glorious low fi hardcore craziness and outright poor poor production… normally given the choice between these 2 tracks I’d post the crazier one, but I figure I’ll give you the more palatable one and save the madness for anyone who bothers to track down this EP :)



Clarky & Dillinja – Dark Science