The two tracks on this release ‘Take Me To Your Leader’ and ‘Bodyrock’ were made in Stu J’s living room at the Polygon in Southampton. His studio partner Don had a Roland W30 work station that he would bring over, which was an all in one sampler and sequencer. “I think this is also what The Prodigy used at the time” Stu tells me.
There was also an Akai 950, a 24 track Allen & Heath desk and a Quadraverb which Stu owned. “I think that was it, that’s all we had to make these tracks. It was such a great time that you could make music with such limited gear. It was like things were better if you had minimal gear to work with.” When the tracks were completed Stu used a company called Perpetual for all the cutting and pressing as he didn’t have any links directly, so a one stop shop was the best course of action to get his releases out there.
“It was a crazy experience. As we had limited sample time, big sections of the track are mixed in live from another record on the decks. Don had the sequencer, so he knew what he was doing on that side of things, far more than me. I was the DJ and knew how a tune should be structured. Don was an amazing engineer. He was so much more than an engineer though.
This track is a seminal tune for any raver on the South Coast of the UK as Stu would be playing Madisons, Remix, Adrenalin parties as well as Fantazia at Matchams. But this release went far beyond the south, it was a national treasure that take those who listen back to 1991, the year this release was first pressed. Now available remastered and repressed on heavyweight green vinyl.
Fruit & Veg is a hardcore collective from London and Bristol comprising of Martin Drake, Rich Williams, Dave Cridge and James Towler. With two white label releases to their name, differing members are responsible for each tune. These EPs are highly sought after on Discogs and change hands for high prices.
This EP is the first of their collaborative efforts and only 500 white labels were released and sold out the back of a van across London and the South West of England back in 1993. The are now brought to you on heavyweight green vinyl.
Brian Fenner, aka DJ Monita, first started to hit the clubs as a DJ in 1991, making his debut at the Paradise Club on a Thursday night, but when he first started to make his tapes, he didn’t have a DJ name and the tapes went out nameless, explaining why no one on the estate knew it was him behind the mixtapes. “An old girlfriend told me that I needed to sort myself out with a DJ name, so I did. Though I wasn’t very imaginative with it back then, I just named myself after monitor speakers!” Brian laughs “But I wish I didn’t change the spelling to Monita all those years ago as people keep thinking that I am a Spanish female DJ!”
This is was the 12th release that Monita put out on his Skeleton Recordings, released in 1994. Now remastered and repressed on heavyweight green vinyl for 2022.
Skrufneck is the infamous DJ Pooch, hailing from Kent, UK. He was well known as a DJ on the rave circuit back in the early 90’s, playing at World Dance, Reincarnation, Arcadia, Tribal Dance and Elevation to name a few. He was also producing many great hardcore rave classics during this period and this release is the first that we have repressed from his backcat.
Over the past few years Pooch has been reinspired by the interest in the hardcore scene and has returned to the studio to make brand new rave anthems using his original analogue equipment that he had back in the day, recording for Vinyl Fanatiks sister label, Amen Brother.
This was the first release on his short-lived Skrufneck label, originally released in 1993. Now available on heavyweight green vinyl for 2022.
Manchester’s Metrodome makes his debut on 1985 Music with his weird but wonderful ‘Manchester Since 1994 EP’. This 4 track collection celebrates the best of the UK rave sound and choppy beats.
“The making of this EP came from my obsession with old skool rave music! I have been a record collector and DJ since I was 4 years old and I grew up around music, ravers and DJs.
My dad told me the only way to get me to sleep was to put on Marcus Intalex and Mark XTC's 'Da Intalex' show on Pirate Radio station Kiss 102 FM back around 1995/1996.
This EP is dedicated to 4 year old me who loved Photek, Tom & Jerry, Orbital and Aphex Twin.
‘An Increase In Entropy’ is the third and final triumphant piece in the trilogy of the 90’s Jungle / Drum and Bass flavoured releases from ASC for Samurai Music.
Following on from the ‘An Exact Science’ EP and the ‘Isolated Systems’ LP, James again explores timeless motifs that have echoed through the years from their 90’s origins and brings them up to date with his intricate touches and ASC signature layers, while keeping the rawness and tempo that imbues the tunes with authenticity.
James continues to re-establish himself as a 'one of a kind' producer whose skills succeed in establishing a creative peak in any style he works on.
UVB-76 veteran Overlook returns once again with a new EP in the form of ‘Lost Souls Club’. Four tracks drenched in film-noir soundscapes and topped with razor sharp breakbeats, never once compromising in its intricate details and scope. This a journey truly encompassing the past, present and future of the genre.
‘Shore to Shore’ is the debut album set to drop from Phase on Metalheadz, and after the artist’s history on the label it was the next obvious step for both him as well as the imprint. Handpicked by Metalheadz label boss Goldie, the Belgium native residing in Switzerland is following in the footsteps of a Beatport No.1 on Metalheadz with his collaboration ‘Call In Me’ alongside Grey Code with a brand new album.
‘Shore to Shore’ brings back the all-encompassing listening experience of an album. With eight brand new records offered by the producer, each selection is as immersive as the next. Beginning with its title-track, it delivers layer upon layer of cascading breaks and stunning vocal crescendos from LaMeduza and it’s the optimum way for Phase to pull you into his domain. ‘Stress Out’ and ‘Frameworks’ provide a darker climate, and the more stripped back assembly of ‘Something’s Missing’ pushes against the drum rhythms of ‘Inner Schism’. ‘Quick Fix’ flips the switch with its subterranean levels meanwhile the grooves of ‘Tatter Tune’ add more to the track list’s diversity. Ending the album, comes ‘Only One’ with UK talent Tyler Daley – a name in his own right and highlighting the scope at Phase’s fingertips.
Even the album’s artwork, hand painted by Italian designer Matteo Saccò is a visual representation of the album's journey. Mirroring its audio experiences of different emotions and turbulences throughout, it repackages these themes in a visual format. Highlighting once again that ‘Shore to Shore’ truly is an all encompassing project.
For the burgeoning producer, ‘Shore to Shore’ is one of his biggest projects. It lays bare the musicality he has available to him through years of dedication to the craft and with a combined journey, Metalheadz was the perfect place for its release. It proves that alongside several singles laying in its wake, April is looking to be another important month for both the producer and the LP’s home at Metalheadz.
A1. Shore To Shore (ft. LaMeduza) A2. Stress Out B1. Frameworks B2. Something's Missing C1. Inner Schism C2. Quick Fix D1. Tatter Tune D2. Only One (ft. Tyler Daley)
With releases already under their belt with the likes of Amenology, Jungle Cat & PPJ, Riffz & Msymiakos are joining the ranks at Time Tunnel Recordings. 2 absolute belters in pure 1994/1995 style amen driven jungle. Despite the fact the artists are from Poland & Norway, they have captured the mid 90s London Underground sound perfectly.
Repress Due: 6th May 2022 Odysee Recordings is proud to present the 3rd in the series of digital re-masters and remixes of selected classics from the back catalogue. Originally released in 1995 (ODY03), A Different Groove featured on Source Direct’s second release on the label and sits alongside other early classics such as Fabric Of Space, A Made Up Sound and the slightly later Complexities.
From the superbly engineered breakbeats to the expert arrangement and deftly placed samples, this has all the trademarks of early Source Direct and clearly demonstrates why these productions are so highly regarded. The use of space is remarkable (especially for the time) and as such this is something of a precursor to the celebrated Hokusai releases of 1996-97.
Built around the same selection of breaks and samples, Andy Odysee’s remix delivers a modern take on the classic Source Direct template. In this 21st century version, the art is very much in the detail. Jimmy McGriff’s ‘Worm’ is rebuilt to pack a harder and quicker punch supported by a cocktail of other breakbeats, classic Hip-House style bass stabs and trademark synth bass curls. Once again Andy demonstrates his ability to balance a respectful senstivity to the vibe and design of the original, whilst simultaneously reworking the various musical elements and adding spice to give them that modern twist.
a1. Source Direct - A Different Groove (2020 Remaster)
b1. Source Direct - A Different Groove (Andy Odysee Remix)
Basic Rhythm returns to his Jungle roots for his final release with Planet Mu. Harking back to the golden era of the mid 90s, but with a contemporary slant, Basic Rhythm hands in three dance floor killers, with a remix from the grim reaper himself, Loxy. The titular track, Cool Down The Dance, opens with a jittery fragmented drum pattern and wooshing stereo effects, lending a slightly disorienting feel to the intro before the well known vocal refrain leads into a monster amen drop. Deep subs, amen breaks and steely stabs roll out this dance floor banger. This is followed up with an absolute behemoth of a track. Horse Mout’ utilises an infamous vocal sample in a fresh way, building upon the intro with waves of dubwise effects before launching into a devastating onslaught.
With support from scene stalwarts DJ Storm and Flight this one has been smashing up dance floors! The third track is a remix of Cool Down The Dance by Loxy, bringing his inimitable cool production style to the fore, stripping away the amen layers to reveal something for the darker corners of the dance. One for the head noders and the eyes down crew. The final track, Satta, is a nod to the dub of Augustus Pablo, King Tubby, and On U Sound. A slow boiling minimal intro that drops into the extreme minimalism of just a kick drum and sub bass line belies the swagger of the eventual drop. Swinging drums in an almost military pattern tumble and stagger around the core line of kick drum and sub bass, lending this an almost drunken air.
Tone Def are the original Bournemouth ravers with some absolute classics released in the early 90’s on Moving Shadow. Rog from the band is also the founder of Void Acoustics, the ultimate in club and festival audio equipment, a hobby that became a huge business empire for him.
This EP was written during 1990 to 1991 and had been lost for 30 years until recently, when Rog was checking some of his old ¼” tapes that he took out of storage. These are 4 original UK acid breakbeat rave tracks, encapsulating the raw DIY ethos of the era, of kids messing about in their bedrooms, writing music with no boundaries or templates. Never heard before, never released before… until now.
Acid Boom is a sister label to the Vinyl Fanatiks family. A vehicle to release that early 90’s acid sound that would later morph into rave. High energy 303’s, 808 and 909 drum machines, synced up to rolling breakbeats. Whether music from back in the day or new music that’s been created to emulate that early warehouse sound, Acid Boom is here to take you on a rush.
Missing returns on his Sub System Recordings label with some 80’s inspired vibes. Keeping the presentation on the 80’s tip we have opted to press this on a fluorescent pink 10”.
Fugitive is Dave Wallace from Aquasky, dusting off his old alias that he used to record under on Underdog Recordings back in 1994. Digging deep for some 80s licks, while rolling out the beats! Watch that drop! On the flipside M-Beat returns to the label for a proper remix on that 94 tip.