blog to the oldskool

I’ve already posted plenty about 786/Deja Vu, but here’s two belters which I haven’t yet mentioned. “Organised Crime” was a large track perhaps on par with Naz AKA Naz’s other big tune “Started Again”… both of these were featured on comps back in the day, with “organised crime” being on one volume of Kickin’s Hardcore Leaders series. While the original (a-side) mix is good, it’s this B-side remix which really does it for me: massive “Runs house” break (ala Blame’s “music takes you”), a blissful breakdown which drops the Godfather sample “I thought I was out… they pulled me back in!”, before pulling you back into mega-technoid-rave-synth madness.


Naz AKA Naz – Organised Crime (The Killer Mix)

The Eye Spy remix is on a separate EP, and seems to take no small influence from Acen’s “Trip to the Moon Pt 3″, both with common samples (ala the Jungle Pirate “Mutiny on the Bounty” track mentioned recently, except in this case it’s the acapella bit from Erik B & Rakim’s “Let The Rhythm Hit Em”) and with the little melody at 2:27 which mimics both the original “ttm3″ melody as well as the melody modulation in that track. None of these similarities are a big deal though, at least for me they doesn’t detract from the remix in the slightest.

Naz AKA Naz – Organised Crime (DJ Eye Spy Remix)

Here’s the original TTM3 so you can decide whether I’m reading too much into these similarities or not:

A friend borrowed my turntable needles so I haven’t been able to rip vinyl for the past few days. Therefore, here’s a track off a CD compilation. Incidentally, this comp also features the last track I posted (Raving Mad – Adrenaline), though it’s cut a minute or two short on there. This track is also 786/Deja Vu related, by Recall aka David Hope of Driller Killer EP fame. I’m pretty sure “King of Rock” was only ever released on this compilation, which is unfortunate since the vinyl version of this comp has 6 tracks per side. On the plus side, this track is at least featured in its entirety, while most other songs on the comp fade out after 4 minutes or so.

The other Recall stuff I have is from 91, but this is definitely more of a 92 tune – lots of hip hop samples, hot pants + runs house breaks trading off with 4/4 beats, not to mention gloriously grimey production ala the other 786/deja vu stuff. It’s heavily repetitive and total rave riff salad, but if either of those facts bug you then you probably already hate this website.

Recall – King of Rock

I’ve had this tune stuck in my head for a while now… I’m pretty sure I didn’t even like it that much the first few times I heard it, but between the piano part and the “we’re gonna rock you” chant, it’s definitely wormed its way into my brain.

Raving Mad – Adrenaline (Remix)

Here’s another one of the underrated tracks on 786 Records/Deja Vu. I believe this tune is produced by Dream, who (as somebody pointed out in the comments on this blog) also did the great “Power of Darkness” tune which I have yet to score. This track takes about a minute and a half to get going, but is definitely enjoyable when fully kicked in… big anthemic synth parts that somewhat belie the year it was produced (though I guess there were still a number of big anthem-y rave jams like this being done at the time). Information is, as usual with these more obscure releases, limited… hopefully one day I can track down Naz Khan or David Hope and get to the bottom of these great 786/Deja Vu releases.

Krazy Kidz – Energy Flow (Start the Pulse)

HOW GOOD is 786 / DEJA VU RECORDS?!!!! You can keep your “Sweet Harmony” and “Don’t Go”. That stuff is OK, but when push comes to shove I’ll always choose crazy distorted rage music requiring 2 showers after each listen, like this tune and the others on 786/Deja Vu.

Speaking of which… If anyone can put me in touch w/ Naz Khan (Naz aka Naz) or David Hope, please drop me a line at . I’d love to do an interview w/ one or both of them.

Tranquil – You Got It