Zone-Magazine-Wally-Lopez-Issue-040

TUNES @ravereview
// Oldskool Albums Vinyl You - Dance Must Own PT2 // Jack Acid
Back in the day, acid house and rave music were often dismissed as being 'too loud' or 'too repetitive.' Critics argued that these genres lacked substance and
sophistication, missing out on the rich textures and intricate rhythms that defined them. I strongly disagreed with that in 1991, and my stance remains unchanged
today. To showcase the depth and diversity of early dance music, I've got another list of essential, obscure, uplifting old-skool records, trying to avoid the more
obvious choices. These tracks, in no particular order, span multiple genres, demonstrating how, in the hands of talented artists, early dance music could transcend
simple beats to become a thing of unparalleled beauty. Enjoy!
Li Kwan “Point Zero” Seka Records 1994
Ignore the A side. Trust me; it’s forgettable. Instead, carefully flip the wax over, place the needle in the groove, and
prepare to have electronic MDMA injected into your brain. Written and released during an era of some of the best
trance music ever produced, this track still stands out as one of the greatest melodic achievements of the '90s. This is
peerless, unequivocally stunning trance music, designed to make you close your eyes and whisk you away.
Throughout the decades that I have enjoyed great electronic music, this single track remains one of the greatest
examples of what dance music can achieve when placed in the right hands, with production values that remain as
impeccable today as they were back in 1995. Quite simply, this is like dying and going to heaven—and there are not
many tunes that can match the orgasmic brilliance of this, thirty years later.
UR (Mad Mike) - “The Final Frontier” [UR003 Records] 1993
Obscure and now very expensive on its original vinyl, this remains one of those tunes that propelled me into dance
music production. The genius of this fast-paced acid track lies in its simplicity: take one frantic, 808-led electro
beat and a simple squelching 303 bassline, and then… well, just wait for it. A very unexpected crescendo of dark,
haunting strings and accompanying sub-bass wash over your head, transporting you to other lands in the process.
This track must be played loudly in a dark club, with eyes closed for maximum effect. It’s not complicated, but it
just works. And those chords will be seared into your head by the end.
Together - “Hardcore Uproar” [FFRR Records] 1990
This is the kind of track that makes you think you’ve always known it. It’s a brilliantly infectious track, made up of
multiple melodic layers, offering something for everyone to enjoy. That's why it was used extensively on popular
sports and youth TV shows in the early 90s—it has a perfect balance of rhythm and tempo. Infectious bouncy
bassline? Yup. Haunting strings? Yeah. Absolutely scene-setting piano lines? Oh, yes indeed. This track was
released in the magical year of 1990, bridging the gap between the more chart-friendly sounds of HipHouse and
harder house music, laying the foundations for what would emerge a year later as Hardcore rave music. This track
just makes you smile, and that’s all it will ever do.
Alex Lee - “Take It” [MQR records] 1990
Whenever I listen to this, I start to tear up. The memories and emotions that I have inextricably tied to this track are
almost painful for me to recall now, with so many people I associate with it no longer with us. I don’t mean to be morbid:
this track was so singularly uplifting and infectious that it was featured everywhere—on every radio station I listened to,
every DJ mixtape I owned, and at every rave I went to. And for good reason, as it has one of the catchiest 'earworm' riffs
you’ll ever hear, leaving you humming it on repeat. Again, it graced that beautiful, transcendent year of 1990 when music
was maturing and came from Italy, which, at that time, was releasing hit after hit of unmatched House classics. It's a
happy, uplifting tune designed for the early part of the night when you're getting ready and planning your evening.
Someone, build me a time machine...
The Scientist - “The Bee” (base mix) [Kickin Records] 1990
While "The Bee" is a fairly well-known early breakbeat hardcore track, featured on various hardcore compilations
both historically and more recently, it came as a very unexpected but delightful surprise recently when I
discovered the stunningly well-made, originally composed Base Mix. The fact that I didn't realize this mix existed
until 2024 is quite breathtakingly ignorant; but setting that aside for a moment, it's well worth seeking out the
original pressing just for this mix. This is a standout hardcore tune because the genre isn’t typically known for
creating melodic and hauntingly beautiful records. However, this mix does just that, by minimizing the elements of
the original and overlaying them with a sublime piano.
Perplexer - “Acid Folk” (Low Speed Mix) [DEF records] 1994
This record, particularly the Low Speed mix, is one of those monumental acid tunes from the early '90s that changed my life the
moment I heard it. I can recall exactly where I was, what year it was, and who was with me—such was its impact then, and it remains
just as profound some thirty years later. It took me years to finally acquire a copy, and I blew my speaker tweeters the first time I
played it. At first glance, a hard techno acid track with a repetitive bagpipe sample might not seem all that impressive. However,
dismissing this track would be a significant mistake. This tune is an absolute powerhouse, featuring searing strings, a wildly twisted
and bubbly acid hook, robust 909 kicks, and 'that' bagpipe sample. If you allow yourself to get lost in this track for even a minute,
you'll discover that it perfectly melds 'screwface' pleasure with an irresistible urge to dance, creating a stunning combination of power
and emotion.
60 Zone-magazine.eu