This section is where DJ Wittzy has carefully chosen his favourite releases and artists within the world of electronic music and has decided to share with you why he keeps making such a fuss about them. As I have said my tastes do change, so I will update this at the end of the year. Hopefully this will further increase your knowledge about what good music is defined as.
Label(s): Sony Soho Square 1992 / Simply Vinyl 2005
Favourite Mix(es): Boy's Own mix / Rhythm's A Drug / Leftfield Vocal mix
UK Chart Position(s): #18
The definitive house record. Period. And all of the mixes from 1992 are so incredibly powerful. The most famous of them is Terry Farley and Pete Heller's Boy's Own mix - nearly ten minutes of classic house music. But it's not just house music - yes it has got the repetitive drum-machine loop going on, but it has so much more. It has a corking bassline, but it is the emotional synths in the background which makes this record send shivers up your spine. Carl Cox's Rhythm's A Drug mix turns the song into a brilliant faster techno/breakbeat rave anthem, whilst the Leftfield Vocal mix is more like the Boy's Own mix, but much slower and even more emotional, borrowing the background synths from the radio version. Seminal record - this is what house music should be about.
2. New Order: BLUE MONDAY
Label(s): Factory 1983, 1988, 1995
Favourite Mix(es): 1983 Original / 12" version (1988) / Hardfloor mix (1995)
UK Chart Position(s): #9 (1983), #3 (1988), #17 (1995)
Groundbreaking record when first released in 1983 - absolutely years ahead of its time. A fantastic pounding electro beat with rocking guitars, thudding drumbeats, weird synth noises - the lot. Yet at the same time very downbeat, with those lyrics and emotional synths at the start and end. Only made #12 in the UK in spring '83 because Factory only released it on 12". However it stormed back up to #9 later that year, and was remixed in 1988, with the addition of samples and extra guitars to more of an acid house beat. Hardfloor turned it into a superb acid/hard trance track in 1995 with plenty of 303s going on and a less emphasized thudding beat in the intro.
3. Cubic 22: NIGHT IN MOTION
Label(s): XL Recordings 1991
Favourite Mix(es): Original mix
UK Chart Position(s): #15
Back in the days when XL Recordings had quality rave music on their books (instead of the rubbish alternative stuff now), a couple of guys from Belgium produced a fantastic slice of old skool rave. The catchy hardcore riff, breakbeats and "Party time!" sample (from a 1980 disco record) just force you to jump about like you're insane in the brain. But, that's not the best bit. No. The icing on the cake is when those gorgeous, gorgeous mellow strings come in (almost like a piece of classical music) and then the manic piano bit straight after. Pure bliss! The perfect old skool hands-in-the-air rave anthem. So good, it even appeals to the ladies. Was later used as the basis for Strike's house anthem U Sure Do in 1994.
4. Orbital: CHIME
Label(s): Oh-Zone 1989 / FFRR 1990
Favourite Mix(es): US Album version
UK Chart Position(s): #17
My favourite techno record! And Orbital's first hit, recorded in 1989 in their dad's garage on really cheap equipment apparently! Originally released on Oh-Zone records and limited to just 1000 copies, Pete Tong's FFRR label snapped it up and the Hartnoll Brothers hit the top 20, leading to an appearance on Top Of The Pops. Begins with what sounds like a bell ringing (hence the appropriate title of Chime) followed by a lovely, very simple heavy bassline, and then some acid squelches later on. The last two minutes of the song are very different, creating more of a downtempo atmosphere to the song with a repetitive loop/sample as the track comes to a climax.
5. Bassheads: IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE
Label(s): Deconstruction 1991, 1995
Favourite Mix(es): Original mix
UK Chart Position(s): #5 (1991), #24 (1995)
One of those typical Northern piano anthems of 1991. Fantastic, weren't they? This Liverpudlian house act used the popular piano riffs with a very catchy bassline, some nice acid squelches and even an Afrika Bambataa sample. The original promo contained an Osmonds sample, which they did not get permission for, so it was removed from the final version. The song changes after about six and a half minutes, from a club-friendly house anthem to a mellow chill-out cut with what sounds like jungle bird noises and a satellite bleeping (if you listen carefully). Hardfloor remixed the track in 1995. I should also mention the Bassheads' follow-up single Back To The Old School - very underrated housey track containing fantastic breakbeats and piano and floaty trancey synths, not forgetting the many samples. Both quality records.
6. Happy Mondays: HALLELUJAH (MADCHESTER RAVE ON E.P.)
Label(s): Factory 1989
Favourite Mix(es): Club mix
UK Chart Position(s): #19
The Happy Mondays were at the forefront of the Madchester scene in the late 80s and scored their first UK hit with this release. House gurus Paul Oakenfold and Andrew Weatherall then turned an average indie rock song into a brilliant club record, although it still sounds very slow-paced compared to modern house music. The guitars and vocals still remain in the song, but there is a fantastic piano added which really makes this a great remix.
7. K-klass: RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY
Label(s): Creed 1991, Deconstruction 1991
Favourite Mix(es): remix
UK Chart Position(s): #3
Another classic early 90s Northern piano house tune. Originally released on Creed records in April 1991, it was remixed by Matthew Roberts later that same year and picked up by Deconstruction, and re-released where it stormed into the top ten.
8. Humanoid: STAKKER HUMANOID
Label(s): Jumpin' & Pumpin' 1988, 1992, 2001, 2007
Favourite Mix(es): Original mix / Smart Systems remix / Gary Cobain remix / Snowman mix
UK Chart Position(s): #17 (1988), #40 (1992)
Before Manchester duo Gary Cobain and Brian Dougans created FSOL, they were Humanoid. Their biggest hit was Stakker Humanoid - a hard techno/acid house sizzler which sampled an early 1980s computer game over a progressive heavy bassline. Was given a bit of a hardcore/breakbeat makeover in 1992 to tie in with the old skool rave scene.
9. Future Sound Of London: PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Label(s): Jumpin' & Pumpin' 1991-92, 2001, 2006
Favourite Mix(es): Original/Dali mix
UK Chart Position(s): #22 (1992), #28 (2001)
A definitive rave anthem, although not the usual sort of hands-in-the-air, fast progressive techno beat. Quite the opposite - a very mellow slice of hypnotic trancey chords over layered breakbeats, some samples chucked in, and of course that brilliant emphasized heavy bass guitar. Very downbeat, but that's what makes it so fantastic that is unlike any other old skool anthem - something to chill out to on the way home from a rave ...or just whenever you want to hear something absolutely timeless which will transport you out of this world with the emotive atmosphere it creates.
10. KLF: WHAT TIME IS LOVE
Label(s): KLF Communications 1988, 1990, 1992
Favourite Mix(es): Pure Trance Original / Live at Trancentral / America: What Time Is Love
UK Chart Position(s): #5 (1990), #4 (1992)
The KLF created one of the first-ever trance records in 1988 with the Pure Trance Original instrumental version of What Time Is Love which later became a huge hit in the UK - twice. The 1990 version contained a rap by Isaac Bello with the same fantastic atmospheric trancey synths and now updated with the fantastic screeching acid sounds of the 303. When re-released in 1992, it was turned into more of an aggressive techno hit with blazing guitars, sampling the Ace Of Spades by Motorhead, and containing wailing vocals by Glenn Hughes from Deep Purple. It turned out to be the KLF's final single under that alias.
11. Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu: IT'S GRIM UP NORTH
Label(s): KLF Communications 1990, 1991
Favourite Mix(es): Club mix
UK Chart Position(s): #10
Under the guise of the JAMMs, the KLF scored themselves another top 10 hit in 1991 with this fantastic progressive techno/acid house/trance track. As per usual with the KLF you have a fantastic dancey beat in the background, but this track contains some bizarre lyrics (which explains the title) - Bill Drummond in his Scottish accent shouting about several shitty towns and cities in the North of England such as "Bolton, Barnsley, Nelson, Colne", "Warrington, Widnes, Wigan, Leeds", "Northwich, Nantwich, Knutsford, Hull" and "Sale, Salford, Southport, Leigh" ...the list goes on and on.
12. Bassomatic: FASCINATING RHYTHM
Label(s): Virgin 1990
Favourite Mix(es): Original mix
UK Chart Position(s): #9
Before William Orbit was doing his solo commercial trance stuff at the turn of the century, and in between the Strange Cargo projects, he produced a couple of albums under the Bassomatic (or Bass-O-Matic) pseudonym. His first hit in the UK Charts was Fascinating Rhythm, a relatively slow-paced breakbeat record with lots of lovely odd techno sounds and scratches in the background. The record broke the top 10 in October 1990, but his previous release In The Realm Of The Senses is another brilliant, underrated (unknown to the masses infact) classic early 90s techno banger well worth checking out.
13. Frankie Goes To Hollywood: RELAX
Label(s): ZTT 1993
Favourite Mix(es): Jam & Spoon's Trip-O-Matic Fairytale mix
UK Chart Position(s): #5
Everyone knows the original 1983/84 monster hit which caused such a storm in the UK - that was a quality synth-pop record. But Jam & Spoon's remix of the 1993 re-release was even better. Jam & Spoon made countless superb trance records in the early/mid 90s; it's hard to choose one definitive record but this one is right up there. A lovely, very typical Jam & Spoon opening to the song gets things going - mellow trancey synth chords and piano, with some kind of acidic stabs too. Then about five minutes of more club-friendly stuff with the main trance riff, before the lovely mellow bit at the end again.
14. Mory Kante: YEKE YEKE
Label(s): Ffrreedom (1994)
Favourite Mix(es): Hardfloor mix
UK Chart Position(s): #29
Hardfloor turned Mory Kante's 1987 hit into a club classic with lovely acid squelches and atmospheric trancey chords coupled to a housey beat. Was again remixed in 1996.
15. Fresh 4 featuring Lizz E: WISHING ON A STAR
Label(s): Ten Records 1989
Favourite Mix(es): Original mix
UK Chart Position(s): #10
The definitive sound of Bristol in the late 80s, and the springboard for many drum & bass acts to come in later years. Very subtle track, with slow-paced breakbeats and scratches, and downtempo, watery synths in the background. A cover of Rose Royce's 1970s hit.
16. 808 State: PACIFIC
Label(s): ZTT 1989, 1998
Favourite Mix(es): Original / Pacific 808:98
UK Chart Position(s): #10 (1989), #21 (1998)
A truly remarkable record when it came out; still absolutely seminal now. Manchester's 808 State created a classic mellow Ibiza anthem, containing influences of techno, acid house, breakbeats and the very distinctive samples of tropical bird noises. And of course - let's not forget that brilliant, very, very sexy saxophone bit as well. Yes techno records used saxophones in 1989 - back then anything was possible! First appeared on the Quadrastate E.P. in early 1989 and has been remixed countless times since. Turned into a super drum & bass/jungle track in 1998 whilst still retaining the ambient synths in the background and the tropical bird samples.
17. Sasha: XPANDER (XPANDER E.P.)
Label(s): Deconstruction 1999
Favourite Mix(es): Original mix
UK Chart Position(s): #18
One of progressive trance's finest hours. Sasha's gorgeous, melodic Xpander - the title track from the E.P. - was a rare example of a fantastic late 90s trance record; tasteful and filled with emotion, unlike most of the tacky commercial stuff (Alice Deejay and company) coming from Ibiza at the time.
18. Rhythm On The Loose: BREAK OF DAWN
Label(s): Network 1991, 6x6 1995
Favourite Mix(es): Rhythm On The Loose 95 remix
UK Chart Position(s): #36
A breakbeat record originally released in the old skool era of 1991 was transformed into a garage house classic, complete with catchy piano riffs and basslines in the summer of 1995, just reaching the UK top 40. Uses First Choice's Let No Man Put Asunder as the main sample throughout.
19. U2: EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
Label(s): Island Records 1992
Favourite Mix(es): Perfecto mix
UK Chart Position(s): #8
U2 originally released this in June 1992 - their typical sort of indie rock record - but it wasn't a huge hit, only making number 12. Then, a month later Paul Oakenfold turned it into a club classic and the record made the top ten. Dubbed one of the seminal trance anthems, although to me it's more house than trance. What isn't in doubt is that it's a quality piece of electronic music.
20. The Orb: BLUE ROOM
Label(s): Big Life 1992
Favourite Mix(es): Original mix
UK Chart Position(s): #8
The ultimate ambient record! At a couple of seconds under 40 minutes long, Blue Room set a record for the longest eligible UK chart entry. A very minimal, spacey atmosphere is created, coupled with some samples and Jah Wobble's wonderfully catchy heavy bass guitar throughout. Absolutely timeless.
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1-Move Any Mountain (Beat edit) 7.5
2-Human NRG (Massey) 7.5
3-Possible Words (Deep PSI) 10
4-Omega Amigo (Steve Osbourne mix) 8
5-Evil Is Even (edit) 7
6-Hyperreal Orbit 10
7-Lightspan 9
8-Make It Mine 9
9-Oxygen Restriction 9
10-Hear Me 10
11-Progen (666 edit) 6
12-Make It Minimal 6
13-Hyperreal Selector 8
14-Lightspan Soundwave 9
15-Progen '91 (I.R.P. In The Land Of Oz) 8
2. ORBITAL II:
(1-Time Becomes) n/a
2-Planet Of The Shapes 5.5
3-Lush 3-1 10
4-Lush 3-2 5
5-Impact The Earth Is Burning 8
6-Remind 9
7-Walk Now... 7
8-Monday 8
9-Halcyon+On+On 9.5
(10-Input Out) n/a
3. LEFTISM:
1-Release The Pressure 7
2-Afro Left 6.5
3-Melt 10
4-Song Of Life 8
5-Original 8
6-Black Flute 9
7-Space Shanty 7
8-Inspection Check One 6.5
9-Storm 3000 9
10-Open Up 8.5
11-21st Century Poem 8
Adamski
Altern 8
Bassomatic / Bass-O-Matic
Beats International
Black Box
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Coldcut
D Mob
The Grid
Hardfloor
Jam & Spoon
K-klass
Leftfield
Lionrock
Maradonna
M People
New Order
The Orb
Orbital
The Prodigy
Shamen
SL2
Snap!
Starlight
Technotronic
Josh Wink
Xpansions
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