I’ve been seeing a lot of great IG videos listing era defining tunes in popular genres from Grime to UKG and seeing as it’s a slow news day (in the world of dance music), I thought I would put together a list from a genre I’m familiar with.
History isn’t really a thing anymore when it comes to the current dance music scene. Genres are fluid and decades blend into decades, mostly due the greatesr accessibility to obscure tunes thanks to YouTube. With this in mind, I present to you 10 tracks from the 90s, starting with The Brothers Grimm‘s Mike Oldfield sampling ‘Exodus.’ This came out on one of the biggest early rave and jungle labels- Production House. Like many labels of that era, Production House had an ‘in house’ or signature sound that could be heard on most, if not all of it’s releases. Lots of bleeps, deep subs and a heightened sense of urgency.
Scott & Keith ‘This Is Deranged’ is a rolling number with a three note pattern that leans towards early Belgian Techno. Devastatingly simple and equally effective.
Low Noise Block ‘Rsve In The Bedroom’ is built around a buzzing riff that’s hard to describe but has to be heard with a Rik Mayall sample that kinda gives this tune it’s name.
MC Uproar ‘Bad Boy’ is a very early blueprint for the Jungle sound that would take shape in 1994. Layered breaks, Ragga/Dancehall bass and MC shout outs. Very muddy but that adds to the charm.
DLivin ‘Why’ almost sounds like an early UKG track with a mixture of soul and dub elements.
Noise Factory ‘Be Free’ has so much going on- Reggae samples, fat bass, amen breaks layered with dubby percussion and mad, off kilter detuned rave stabs- a thing of beauty.
Wax Doctor ‘New Direction’, made in 1992, still sounds like the future. 4×4 beats with breaks, haunting Detroit Techno pads and eerie undertones, not of this world!
Euphony ‘Just 4 U London’, another super early Jungle tune. Not the ‘Kuff mix’ which is available on download stores- this is the original version, a sparse, bass driven Jungle archetype.
Tango ‘Can’t Stop The Rush 93’, famous for the ‘lets rooooock’ sample from ‘Aliens’, the reverse stabs in the mid section are so good!
Dem 2 Ruff ‘Nice Tune.‘ Rounding off this list with a quintessential Jungle roller, loaded with great samples including a very well known R&B song (wink, wink).
Like what you hear? Check Discogs or your local vinyl store and see if you can grab any of them.