blog to the oldskool

Here’s a cool EP I scored on a trip recently… I’ve been after this for a while, and one of the few advantages of being a total record nerd is that I can easily identify records like this simply by the label even when there’s no info on the record (why it probably managed to sit in a store for ages and ages). This is definitely one of those tunes that I wasn’t sure about when I first heard it, but the weird vocals eventually won me over and I’m totally hooked now. Both sides have a similar song, the primary difference being that the vocals on side A are pitch shifted up while the vocals on side B are pitch shifted down. No idea who made this or if they made any other records, anyone know a bit more about it?


Forbidden Zone – A

Here’s a well known favorite that I still play regularly in non-oldskool sets… in fact I just spun this out last Sunday at a club down the street. Nebula II were probably best known for this track and “Atheama”, and while “Atheama” is great, this is my favorite – massive low fi descending synth line, a great slow down/speed up breakdown, solid breakbeats (not many early tunes I can think of used the Funky Nassau break other than Sonz of a Loop Da Loop “Far Out”), good vocal drops (”Let’s Do it” , “The Dreamer” etc )… in general it’s just a mad, energetic, awesome hardcore tune. The remix is good as well, especially with the ridiculously over the top bass which drops about 3 minutes in, distorting and squashing down the drums more than in any other oldskool track I’ve heard. I was going to post that as well, but I think I’ll save it for another day.

Nebula II – Flatliners

Also, while I’m posting Nebula II stuff, here’s a remix of “Atheama” done by me and a friend a couple of years ago as part of the “back2you” remix competition. I’ve tried to steer clear of posting any of my own music on here since this site is meant to be about classic tunes, but I think after 300+ posts, I can post one track.
Nebula II – Atheama (Ravetasm Posse remix)

I’ve been posting pretty frantic crazy tracks lately, so here’s a more melodic, simple and catchy track which is slightly reminiscent of “DJs Unite”. This track was written by MC Excel of the Asmo – Rushamuffin EP.

Rhythm N Ryme – Luv Drug

Here’s a top favorite of mine. You may have heard the B side of this (”The Way”), as it’s been remixed a few times and features the classic Top Buzz sample “Are you really ready for some bloodclat jungle techno??!!!” Great tune, but the Istanbul Remix wins for me by far. The original of “Istanbul” is a good enough song, maybe a bit similar to Taylor’s earlier hit, Egyptian Empire “Horn Track” (which I’m going to assume everyone knows). The remix takes “Istanbul” in an entirely different direction though, chopping the original into a crazy 8 bar-long drum hook which comes back and is then further choppped later in the song. This 8 bar part was sampled in Venture FM “Atmosphere”, maybe some other tracks too though their names escape me now. The only thing that bugs me about the tune is that there’s a couple of dramatic one measure pauses in it which throw the measure count off, which means if you’re mixing it you have to pay attention or things will get a bit “unhinged”.

Tim Taylor – Istanbul (Taktix Remix)