Ratpack – Rat Pack- Looking Through My Window [1992] April 17, 2012

Taken from the truly excellent “First Taste” album from Fantazia and what a classic this wound up being. Starting slowly, almost understated with some whistful lyrics before the bassline and piano kick in and its all vintage Ratpack from that point on. The boys caught a lot of flack for surfing the line between mainstream [...]

Jem 77 – Never Felt This Way (Hyper Mix) [1992] March 1, 2012

Another one of those huge tunes from back in the day. I dont think I actually ever heard the original, instead hearing the Hyper Mix get caned everywhere and by everyone. Its without a doubt one of the better late hardcore tracks, the cheese is less weighty than most releases, keeping most of the interest on that ferocious breakbeat that hammers the song from the get go. Couple that with some great strings and the punchy vocal and a genius use of a Guns & Roses guitar riff and you have yourself a winner. Total classic.

D.O.M. – Acid war [1995] February 28, 2012

From one end of the spectrum to the other, this Acid Techno masterpiece from D.O.M rarely attracts anything but unapologetic joy and for good reason. This doesn’t destroy dance floors, this track obliterates them with extreme prejudice. Thats driving acid riff does not stop for the entire track, pulsing through you like a techno body snatcher from another world. There is no let up, no break, once it drops your in it for the duration. Your entire world is now nothing but possessed acid riffs, pounding bass drums and raw acid baselines. I cant adequately explain in words really just how incredible a track this is when heard live, surrounded by a sea of bodies but the reaction is just electric. An absolute masterpiece.

Cygnus X – The Orange Theme [1994] February 28, 2012

Now here’s a track that inspires either flat out joy or absolute hatred in all that know it. Its one of those tracks that has been played to death for years, for me, thats for good reason, its a blinder of a track. Its a guaranteed floor filler, appealing to a wide slate of electronic music fans and perhaps thats one of the reasons it inspires such hatred in many. Its origins are from “A Clockwork Orange”, made by one Wendy Carlos who in turn took inspiration from Henry Purcell’s “March” from “Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary”.

Capricorn – 20hz [1993] February 24, 2012

If your not smiling right now, you soon will be. What a classic this track is, an absolutely seminal piece of techno. It all starts innocuously enough but dont be fooled, its about to kick right off. The synth begins it slow, relentless build before in comes that cracking, industrial percussion set and your thinking, wait a minute, this sounds like it could get dangerous. Oh, trust me it does. Cue that fantastic synth build up to the crescendo, drop and your off again. Just when you think its about to get really naughty, in comes that string set, the beats get slightly tempered and before you know it, your arms are in the air and your grinning like a muppet. Its all good you think, im safe! Its going to keep bouncing along like this, its all good. Forget it, Capricorn has you and your taking one of the best techno rides of your like. A farkin’ masterpiece this.

Dave Angel – Jungle Love [1992] February 24, 2012

Oh yeah! What a track from a killer Dave Angel EP, Stairway to Heaven. This stormer is located as the final track on the B side and despite its placement, it might actually be the best track on the whole piece of wax for me. Its a frantic, urgent pounder of a track with some phenomenal, trademark Angel layering work. Lots of interesting percussion tricks to keep the four to the floor interesting. There is that filthy synth riff furiously hunting around the depths of the song, looking for unwary ravers, the tom tom trying desperately to grab our attention and then that string riff drops in and your away. Jungle? Abso-bloody-loutely, what a journey this is. Trademark Dave Angel.

Dave Angel – Funk Music (DJ Tonka Remix) [1997] February 24, 2012

What a cracker this is, its fast enough to be a Dave Angel techno wonder but Tonka chucks in a bucketload of disco-house goodness wrapping the whole track into an absolute dancefloor destroyer. Its got the trademark Angel crispy high hats and snares but lots of string work (from Tonka no doubt). If this track cant get your ass moving you’ve gotta be dead since every dancefloor I’ve seen it dropped on the place has just erupted! What a great track.

ABS -My house is Your House [1991] February 24, 2012

Cracking piece of Euro Techno. Heavv on the stompage with that brutal kick drum just punching you in the chest at every beat. There’s a generous helping of synth stabs but the special part of this for me is the hover type synth riff that comes in at the intro and weaves itself through the moog bassline and then throughout the track, its permanently there driving the track on. A proper shape thrower.

Sub Sub – Ecto-Jam-Sub [1991] February 8, 2012

The B-Side to Space Face and a pretty clear departure from the laid back hedonism of the title track. This is pure northern sounds here, stacked up next to offerings from 808 State, I doubt you could tell them apart. Its got all the prerequisites, bouncy acid riff, deep sub base and a pounding bass drum. Not as prolific as the A side but a cracker none the less.

Thompson Twins – Come Inside (Feedback Max House Mix) [1991] January 31, 2012

And here is the track that Freestyle and DJR nicked that piano riff from. Strangely, this track shares a lot in common with that Freestyle/DJR track. They both have cracking breaks and a rocking bassline. They both have shape chucking ravey-riffs that really dont stack up that well next to the piano but hell, who’s counting. You dont give a crap once the piano drops, your off flying around the room swinging from the rafters.

One quality part of this track however, is the sudden appearance of some NY sounding garage break right in the middle of the track. It provides a nice change of feel that bridge a couple of genre’s ensuring there’s something in here for everyone. Great tune!