DJ Krush – Yeah (Alex Reece Remix) (1995)

Ah, the early 1990s! Inspired by a welcome, but too infrequent, visit from eldest daughter, father felt honour-bound to dig out the old stuff from when she was too young to know ….

In the early 1990s, US Hip-Hop was in fine fettle – Gang Starr, Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Mobb Deep, among others were, ahem, “dropping the bombs” – or, as us we here in the United Kingdom would say, “were releasing mighty fine recordings, thank you very much”.

At the same time, “overground” trip hop was establishing itself in the UK through seminal releases by Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky.

Alongside this, was a more experimental type of instrumental hip hop. On labels like Mo’Wax and Pussyfoot.

In my view, the high water mark of this fleeting genre was achieved by DJ Shadow – his “Entroducing” LP is wonderful but he peaked even earlier with “What Did Your Soul Look Like?” – previously posted here.

Also operating at the same time was DJ Krush from Japan. He released seminal LPs on Mo’Wax and some killer singles. “Yeah” was the third track on the “A Whim” EP of 1995 – remixed by Alex Reece, the track is elevated from mere excellence into the drum’n'bass pantheon.

 

 

 

Moving Fusion – Turbulence (1997)

Seamlessly moving from jungle to drum’n'bass but sticking with the masters at Ram Records.

I heard this played really loud in Selectadisc (are they still going?) on Berwick Street in Soho in the days when I would be out every lunchtime buying piles of CDs and vinyl. Just had to buy it on the spot.

Starts slowly but be patient until the bass kicks in at 1:30 ….

Origin Unknown – Valley of the Shadows (1993)

Saturday night and this blog has been somewhat bereft of jungle/drum’n'bass and so it is time to make up for lost time.

Head back 18 years to one of THE all time classics of the genre.

Released on the wonderful Ram Records label in 1993, Origin Unknown are Andy C and Ant Miles.

Sometimes known as “31 seconds” …. play loud!

Subnation – Scottie (1993)

I like to think that my last post showed that I was pretty much “down with the kids” (I’m awaiting positive feedback from my eldest two but, rest assured, when it comes, their thoughts will be both gushing and admiring … ).

Anyway, just to show how I have still got it, check this peerless piece of drum’n'bass/jungle from Subnation. Classic minimalistic bass and drums plus Star Trek dialogue. What’s not to like. At the cutting edge, still, from only 17 years ago ….