today I decided to stop my weekly newsletter at Substack. I really liked doing it and the feedback was reassuring, but I have to admit that when I set it up I did not do enough research about the platform and while my newsletter was already running I learnt about its lack of moderation and the according problematic content, and the recent statement by Chris Best, Substack’s Co-founder & CEO, really is the biggest load of nonsense I’ve read in a long time. I do not want to support or gain support on a platform that succumbs to recent right-wing political events this way. And yes, I am fully aware that I still have accounts on Instagram and Facebook, and Meta is no less spineless in that aspect , and I am not happy with that either. I will keep these though, for now at least, to follow others I am friends with, admire or respect. Because sadly there are still no real working alternatives. We will see how Bluesky will develop, if that works I might ditch other accounts as well. If not, maybe I just ditch all of it. I got to know many interesting people through social media, revived old acquaintances, met new ones, and I learnt a lot. But for a longer time now, it is more of a drag than anything else, and I am quite tired of it. I think I might finally be ready to just ignore the algorithms, instead of constantly struggling to push through. If I am are forced to deal with so much content I never asked for, on a daily basis, and the content I actually subscribed to is so hard to find, it is wasting too much time for nothing.
But back to content that actually reaches you. I’ve been writing, mainly about music, for many years, and I was frustrated by how much quality content was lost over time, or in the process of vanishing, without really being replaced. It was some kind of relief for me that said content was actually still there, on platforms such as Substack. So I delved into it and eventually decided to contribute to it myself. It soon became apparent that the convenience of print or web magazines was still a better working model, for me at least, because the more accounts you subscribed to, the more you had to process, and the flood of newsletters in my inbox became a bit overwhelming. Of course it can also get quite costly as if you subscribe to several paid subscriptions. But still, it seemed to be a worthy alternative. Well, until you realize that you become associated with a platform that shares opinions that are in stark contrast to your own. So thank you for your attention on Substack, I hope you can understand my decision. My paid subscribers will of course receive a full refund.
If you are still interested in following what I do, you can always find it here. Of course a personal website, a public archive of your activities over the years, is absolutely anachronistic these days. A post I publish here more or less vanishes into the void if I do not post about it elsewhere. But here I have my own void, and I promise to constantly update it and include writings and thoughts and background I would have published on my newsletter, with the difference, admittedly vital, that you have to look by yourself. But I rather be inconvenient than carry on with doing something I know I should not be doing.
1990 was still a transitional year for UK breakbeat music, but on another scale than 1989. The direct connection to acid house started to fade, yet the prototypes of the previous year were developed further. The breakbeats became more varied and complex, there were more bleeps and bass and more pianos, more rave, more techno, gradually more tempo but also generally more diversity. And as you can see with the number of mixes I recorded for this year, there were far more releases as well. And they sounded more refined, as the nights they were played at got bigger and the sounds followed suit.
00:00:00 1 The Source Featuring Candi Staton – You Got The Love (Erens Bootleg Mix) 00:07:37 2 Mr. Fingers – Mr. Fingers – What About This Love (Even Deeper Mix) 00:13:18 3 The Stone Roses – Fools Gold (A Guy Called Gerald remix) 00:20:02 4 4 Hero – Move Wid The House Groove 00:25:00 5 The Sindecut – Demanding Cycle – Of A Word Bound Hammerhead 00:29:57 6 M.N.D.J – Stop The World (Instrumental) 00:33:11 7 Moody Boys – Jammin (Ital Mix) 00:37:40 8 A Certain Ratio – Won’t Stop Loving You (Sumner Mix) 00:41:56 9 Rebel MC – Comin’ On Strong (Ruff Neck Mix) 00:48:31 10 The James Taylor Quartet – Killing Time 00:53:05 11 Fresh Four – Compared To What (Dub) (feat. Lizz.E) 00:57:15 12 Nomad featuring MC Mikee Freed – (I Wanna Give You) Devotion (Instrumental) 01:03:11 13 Mr. Fingers vs. Rockers Revenge – Feel The Sunshine 01:08:15 14 A – L.A. Star – Wondrous Dream (Mix 1) 01:13:50 15 Psychotropic – Only For The Headstrong 01:21:00 16 Baby Ford – Change (Quick St. Break Mix) 01:25:56 17 Baby Ford – Change (Konrad Cadet Mix 1) 01:30:45 18 Jesus Loves You – Generations Of Love (Future Dub) 01:35:44 19 Jesus Loves You – Generations Of Love (Land Of OZ 12″ Mix) 01:41:54 20 Renegade Soundwave – Women Respond to Bass 01:45:14 21 A.R. Kane – A Love from Outer Space (Venusian dub) 01:51:42 22 A.R. Kane – A Love from Outer Space (Solar Equinox mix) 01:55:10 23 A.R. Kane – A Love from Outer Space (Lunar Eclipse mix) 02:00:47 24 The Sindecut – To The Heart 02:04:59 25 The Sindecut – Having 02:08:31 26 Psychotropic – Hypnosis 02:16:24 27 Logic Control MCs – High Pursuit 02:19:35 28 Mental Cube – Chile Of The Bass Generation 02:23:14 29 808 State – In Yer Face (Mancunian Delight) 02:27:57 30 A Certain Ratio – Spirit Dance 02:32:04 31 Orbital – Omen (The Tower) 02:34:32 32 Shades Of Rhythm – Exorcist 02:39:07 33 Newington Heights – Reach 02:44:11 34 Hardcore – Get A Little Stupid (Backroom Mix) 02:50:39 35 The Moody Boys – Funky Zulu (You’re So Fresh) (Chapter 1) 02:55:14 36 Mc Wildski – Warrior (The Art Of Fighting Without Fighting Mix) 02:59:04 37 Renegade Soundwave – Thunder II 03:03:42 38 Jolly Roger – Music Is The Weapon Of The Future (Dub) 03:09:02 39 MC Buzz B – Never Change 03:12:22 40 Mental Cube – Q 03:16:30 41 A Man Called Adam – Barefoot In The Head
00:00:00 1 Orbital – Chime (JZJ Oh Ya Mix) 00:06:18 2 Plutonic – Amen 00:11:17 3 Unique 3 – Phase 3 00:15:23 4 Excel D – The Blur 00:18:52 5 Westworld – The Slam 00:24:04 6 Hypnotone – SBX 00:28:20 7 A1 – I Like Techno 00:31:25 8 Unknown Artist – Untitled 00:34:46 9 DJ Mad A & Dr. Stevie The Ambient Guru – Levitating Pharaohs (Full Frontal Spacehead Ambient mix) 00:38:38 10 Baby Ford – Let’s Talk It Over (12″ Full Version) 00:43:35 11 No Smoke – Oh Yes (Freedom) 00:48:11 12 Language – Renegade (The Energy mix) 00:52:34 13 Language – Renegade (The Cryptic mix) 00:57:01 14 Bang the Party – Rubbadubb 01:00:18 15 Turntable Overload – T T O 01:05:01 16 Unique 3 – Pattern 12 01:09:36 17 Orbital – Omen (12″ Version) 01:15:52 18 Logarhythm – Jungle (Nightmares On Wax Mix) 01:19:39 19 The Black Dog – Apt 01:23:38 20 Synchro – Synchro-Bass – Mystic Voyage 01:29:29 21 Pet Shop Boys – Being Boring (Extended Version) 01:38:50 22 Adé – Free The Soul 01:42:11 23 2 In A Rhythm – Magic Machine (Ruff Rhythm Mix) 01:45:59 24 2 In A Rhythm – Magic Machine (Time For Action Rap) 01:49:41 25 2 In A Rhythm – Bionic Boogie (Work Da Rhythm Mix) 01:53:24 26 2 In A Rhythm – Bionic Boogie (Ride The Groove Mix) 01:57:28 27 Holy Ghost Inc – Hi-Speed (Pirate DJ Club Mix) 02:01:29 28 Freshtrax & Ace II With Pressure Zone – Destruction (War Zone Mix) 02:06:32 29 Andromeda – Control (Control of the dance floor) 02:11:01 30 Shut Up And Dance – A Change Soon Come (Instrumental) 02:14:51 31 Shut Up And Dance – A Change Soon Come 02:19:10 32 Sudden Impact – Game Of Love (Original Mix) 02:25:04 33 Sudden Impact – Game Of Love (Remix) 02:30:41 34 Adamski – Adamski – Killer (Remix) 02:36:56 35 Sike – Intrigue
00:00:00 1 Baby Ford – The World Is In Love (Dub) 00:05:00 2 Midi Rain – The Crack Train (Dub 1) 00:09:20 3 Midi Rain – The Crack Train (Vocal) 00:13:48 4 Circuit – Shelter Me (Helter Skelter Mix) 00:19:33 5 T.A.S. (The Altered State) – Make Some Noise (Def Mix) 00:22:45 6 HardNoise – Untitled (Instrumental) 00:24:56 7 HardNoise – Untitled (Vocal) 00:28:15 8 4 Hero – Rising Son (Inst.) 00:33:28 9 4 Hero – Rising Son 00:38:28 10 Genaside II – The Motiv (Who Da F@??$! You Calling Fat? Mix) 00:42:33 11 The Dynamic Guv’nors – These Guys Are Doper Than Dope 00:48:15 12 MC Duke – MC Duke – I’m Riffin’ (1990 Remix) 00:51:29 13 The V.F.T – Fenland Bass 00:56:31 14 Exocet – Shogun Assassin 01:01:58 15 Synchro-Bass – Dark Star 01:07:32 16 Unique 3 – Weight For The Bass 01:12:04 17 Marine Boy – Laura Laura 01:17:23 18 DJ Mink – Hey! Hey! Can U Relate (Sunshine Dub Instrumental) 01:23:56 19 DJ Mink – Hey! Hey! Can U Relate (Deep Space Mix) 01:28:41 20 Infamix – A Walk In The Park 01:33:41 21 Satin Storm – Satin Storm 01:38:17 22 Butcher Sam – Piano Passions 01:43:23 23 Bogus Order – Zen Bones 01:47:21 24 FXU – FXU – The Dark Side 01:51:24 25 C + M Connection – Bio Rhythms 01:57:11 26 Westworld – Dreamworld 02:03:28 27 Altern 8 – Reel Time Status 02:07:24 28 Demonik – Labyrinthe 02:12:52 29 Doggy – Dog Food 02:17:31 30 G.F.X. – Eternal (Mix 2) 02:19:37 31 Amber – X-Logic 02:26:18 32 Greed – Give Me (Bleep Mix) 02:31:52 33 KCC – Def 02:34:22 34 Confidential – Jam The Frequency 02:40:45 35 A Guy Called Gerald – Untitled
Another year, another mix project! This is something I wanted to do for a long time: a series of mixes that build a retrospective of UK breakbeat music from 1989 to 1999.
The series has to start in 1989. This was the year where breakbeats began to seep into the club soundtrack on a wider scale, and you could notice there was something different and new going on. It was a transitional year. The acid house boom had just waned a bit, but it had provided so much fun and change, it simply could not all be a fad, and a lot of DJs and producers where trying keep the momentum up with fresh ideas. The still nascent house sound absorbed a lot of other influences, like hip hop, techno and dub and particularly in the UK it set a sound in motion that was was both using the clues from the US and continental scene and its own pioneering achievements and its roots in sound system culture.
As you can hear, the beats were still comparatively slow to what was soon to emerge, and mostly derived from fast paced hip hop and electro. But you can also hear that this year provided blueprints and prototypes that are still being referenced, early rave signals, different usages of low and high frequencies, yet unused sample material, and generally new grooves.
00:00:00 1 Fine Young Cannibals – I’m Not the Man I Used to Be 00:04:16 2 De La Soul – Say No Go (House of Love Mix) 00:09:26 3 Stereo Mc’s – Bring It On 00:13:52 4 MC Buzz B – The Sequal 00:18:47 5 M.C. Mell’o – Bizzie Rhymin’ 00:24:38 6 MC Tunes vs. 808 State – Dance Yourself To Death 00:28:54 7 A Guy Called Gerald – FX (Elevation Mix) 00:35:38 8 N.A.D. – Spheres 00:40:33 9 A.R. Kane – Love From Outer Space 00:45:30 10 The Black Dog – The Weight (Liposuction Mix) 00:49:58 11 Baby Ford – Children Of The Revolution (Full 12” Version) 00:56:23 12 Quartz – Meltdown (Original Mix) 01:01:23 13 Candy Flip – Evolution 01:06:42 14 Jesus Loves You – After the Love (Ten Glorious Years mix) 01:14:02 15 The Moody Boys – Funky Zulu (Your So Fresh) (Refreshing Extended Mix) 01:19:19 16 Renegade Soundwave – Ozone Breakdown 01:24:59 17 Renegade Soundwave – Ozone Breakdown (90 Uprising Mix) 01:29:36 18 The Dynamic Guv’nors Present: Jazzy Jason – Faster Than Fast (Hip House Ver.) 01:35:11 19 The Dynamic Guv’nors Present: Jazzy Jason – Make The Floor Burn (Bonus Dub) 01:36:59 20 No Smoke – Koro-Koro 01:40:43 21 Bang The Party – Bang Bang You’re Mine (Full Instrumental Remix) 01:47:25 22 Melancholy Man – Jealous Guy (Dub Mix) 01:52:43 23 Richie Rich – Set Yourself Free 01:56:22 24 Humanoid – Tonight 02:01:08 25 808 State – Magical Dream (Instrumental) 02:05:57 26 808 State – Magical Dream
00:00:00 1 Silver Bullet – Bring Forth The Guillotine (Darksidemix) 00:05:26 2 Silver Bullet – Bring Forth The Guillotine (DJ Beats Mix) 00:10:48 3 Unique 3 – The Theme (Unique Mix) 00:17:05 4 T.D.P. – Ladies (Lets Go) Club Mix 00:22:58 5 Adventures of Stevie V – Dirty Cash (Money Talks) (Dime & Dollar mix) (12″ edit) 00:28:02 6 Nemesis – After The Storm 00:31:56 7 Baby Ford – The World Is In Love 00:36:33 8 A Guy Called Gerald – Specific Hate 00:43:38 9 Impedance – Tainted Love (Underground Mix) 00:46:40 10 Renegade Soundwave – The Phantom 00:50:30 11 Renegade Soundwave – The Phantom (Remix) 00:54:55 12 Kiss AMC – A Bit Of.. (12” Mix) 00:59:41 13 DJ Mink – Hey! Hey! Can U Relate (Hard Rap feat. The K.I.D & Carruthers) 01:04:08 14 Stereo Mc’s – On 33 01:08:37 15 Addis Posse – Let The Warriors Dance (Funky Funky Drum Drum Mix) 01:13:48 16 SL Troopers – Movement 01:17:37 17 MC Martay & D.J. D.B.M. – Beyond Control 01:22:57 18 Jamaica Mean Time Featuring D. – I’m Not Doing It Again (Bombay Mix) 01:26:38 19 Baby Ford – Let’s Talk It Over 01:31:29 20 No Smoke – Africa 01:35:56 21 Needlework – What I Need 01:41:05 22 808 State – Pacific State 01:46:57 23 The Black Dog – Age Of Slack 01:52:56 24 Nightmares On Wax – Dextrous 01:56:08 25 Ten City – Devotion (The Voice Of Paradise Mix) 02:00:50 26 Renegade Soundwave – Probably A Robbery (12 Gauge Turbo) 02:05:42 27 Stereo Mc’s – Toe To Toe 02:10:27 28 The Beatmasters – Ska Train (12″ Mix) 02:14:38 29 Longsy D’s House Sound – This Is Ska (Skacid & Dub Mix) 02:24:12 30 Merlin – Bust Da Move 02:27:32 31 Ester B – Pleasure Of The Music (Remix) 02:32:41 32 Nexus 21 – Real Love 02:37:39 33 Sweet Exorcist – Testone 02:44:13 34 Mad Musician – Jazz Out 02:49:19 35 N.A.D. – Distant Drums
00:00:00 1 Jamaica Mean Time Featuring D. – Rock To Dis (Hip Hop Mix) (feat. DJ Maxi Jazz) 00:06:06 2 The Beatmasters – Don’t Stop The Beat 00:12:41 3 Humanoid – Stakker Humanoid (Snowman Mix) 00:16:31 4 Meat Beat Manifesto – Radio Babylon (Originally Recorded 89) 00:22:31 5 Meat Beat Manifesto – I Got the Fear (Part 1) 00:28:06 6 The Mixbuster Featuring Liaison II – Dance Floor Justice (Dance Floor Justice Inst.) 00:33:17 7 The Mixbuster Featuring Liaison II – Dance Floor Justice (Club Vocal) 00:38:30 8 Jazzy Jason Presents The Mixtress – People Of The Universe 00:43:51 9 Baby Ford – Wigan 00:49:54 10 808 State – Fire Cracker 00:53:39 11 The Orb – A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre Of The Ultraworld (Bucket & Spade Mix) 00:57:52 12 The Black Dog – Tactile 01:02:49 13 Yin Yang – Oh-One (Oh-Too Mix) 01:07:55 14 Exocet – Sweet Talk 01:11:09 15 Forgemasters – Track With No Name 01:15:34 16 Nightmares On Wax – Let It Roll 01:18:38 17 MC Untouchable – Cold House 3D Mix (D’s Devastating Dubbb) 01:20:51 18 Silver Bullet – 20 Seconds To Comply (The Omen Mix) 01:26:28 19 Silver Bullet – 20 Seconds To Comply (The Final Conflict) 01:32:08 20 Nexus 21 – Still Life Keeps Moving (Mental Dub Mix) 01:37:07 21 The Black Dog – Virtual 01:46:03 22 Bizarre Inc – To the Rhythm 01:50:35 23 Meat Beat Manifesto – Strap Down (Part 1) 01:55:40 24 Nexus 21 – Detroit B Boy 01:58:39 25 Cookie Crew – Got To Keep On (12inch Version) 02:03:12 26 Bisca – Learn (Suspiria Mix) 02:08:40 27 Mad Musician – Braek Out
Recent Comments