1990s Jungle & DnB Classics - Remixed Refixed and Rerubbed!

This ones a special: classic jungle and DnB tracks from the 90s that have been revisited and brought up to date by some of the best modern producers, mixed back to back to back. All makes for an a-list tracklist, the biggest names from the scene then and now. Revisiting a classic tune can be a daunting task - not something you want to get wrong. I think the ones here are all well worthy of the original and do them justice.

I've been working on this one for a while now, getting the selection tight, blends in place, getting the journey right...hope you enjoy the ride! Big respect to all producers, old and new, keeping the spirit alive.  And wishing everyone reading this a great year ahead ...we roll on...

90s Jungle & DnB Classics: Remixed, Refixed and Rerubbed!

New Blood - Worries In The Dance (Tom & Jerry Remix)

Lennie De Ice - We Are IE (Dramatic Remix)

Firefox & 4Tree - Warning (Serum Remix)

Jo - R-Type (Chopstick Dubplate Remix)

Tom & Jerry - Maximum Style Vol 1 (Serial Killaz Remix)

Gappa G & Hypa Hypa - Information Centre (Serum VIP Remix)

MA2 - Hearing Is Believing (Serum Remix)

Marvellous Cain - Everyday Junglist (DJ Limited Unreleased VIP Version)

D Livin - Why?? (Aries & Papa G rework)

Bizzy B - 16 Track Ting (Soulculture Remix)

DJ Rap - Spiritual Aura (Saxxon & Bladerunner Remix)

The Dream Team - Raw Dogs (Cabin Fever UK Remix)

DJ Solo - Darkage (Sikka Remix)

Spinback and Gwange - The Execution (Serum Remix)

Nookie - Only You (Dawn Raid & Bladerunner Remix)

Alex Reece - Pulp Fiction (Lynx Edit)

Metalheads - Angel (SCAR Remix)

Nasty Habits - Shadow Boxing (Benny L Remix)

Shimon & Andy C - Quest (Bladerunner Remix)

Krust - Maintain (TC VIP Remix)

Roni Size - Strictly Social (Nu:Tone VIP)

Reprazent - Brown Paper Bag (Anniversary Hardware Remix)

Roni Size - It's A Jazz Thing (Juiceman Remix)

Krust - Jazz Note III (Total Science Remix)

LTJ Bukem - Music (Technicolour Rework)

LTJ Bukem - Atlantis (Marky & S.P.Y. Rework)

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Daz Ellis - The Jungle Pioneer - Tribute Mix

It's very sad news that Daz Ellis has recently died at just 54 years old. For 90s junglists Daz has a very special place in the pantheon of the greats. In 1995 he put out a bunch of amazing records, but two 12s in particular have a strong claim to be the best jungle records of that seminal year, and up there at the top of any all-time greatest jungle records lists.

The back-to-back releases of Oh Gosh and Babylon were lightening in a bottle, Oh Gosh about the most uplifting rootsy amen tear out going, and Babylon surely the most militant smash-the-system hardstep jungle record ever made. Both are marked by incredible drum programming, killer basslines, and the arrangements not just copy and paste jobs, they develop and travel from the top to the last drop. Masterpieces both. 

And the B sides of both records are personal favourites too, The Instrumental has got some utterly unique drum programming on it, and Heaven is one I played to death at the time, deep and dubwise, a beautiful heavyweight mystic piece of music.

What I think all Daz's tunes have in common is dub soundsytstem logic...these are tunes that really come to life played on a set with the bass allowed to pump. If you don't play them at volume you miss half the point.  I really do think he was a pioneer of that dub-logic jungle sound - he certainly played an important part in it. And with rocksteady legend Alton Ellis as his uncle and his dad also involved in JA music perhaps that's not such a surprise.

Something I never knew until his passing was the he was the man behind setting up Essex pirate radio station Cyndicut FM. This was the station in the far east of London Essex borders and also reached over the Thames estuary to north Kent. It turns out the reason for this wide broadcast zone was that they had the transmitter up on the biggest pylon you've ever seen! Cyndicut is still broadcasting online to this day and remains one of the best pirates in the country
https://cyndicut.net <check them out. 

All in all the man is a legend, one of those figures that may not be a household name but has done so much for the culture. A life well lived, and the music lives on. Mix here includes my favourite of his productions, across some of his different aliases. Play it loud.

M.T.S. - Inspiration (1995)

Undercover Agent - Barracuda (1994)

Undercover Agent - Dub Plate Circles (1996)

Daz - Identity (1995)

M.T.S. - Revolution (1996)

Undercover Agent - Dangerous (1996)

Undercover Agent - Jah Works (1995)

Undercover Agent - The Instrumental (1995)

Undercover Agent - Incredible (1997)

Splash - Heaven (1995)

Undercover Agent - Rubadub (2003)

Undercover Agent - Oh Gosh (1995)

Splash - Bablyon (1995)

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1993 Deep Dark Dirty DnB - 30th Anniversary Mix

1993 was a unique year in dance music, an unforgettable one for me personally, and I think one of the high water marks of British electronic music. 

New York and London were power houses. On the US east coast you had crew 'hardcore' rap blowing up (Leaders of the New School, Wu Tang, Lords of the Underground etc), whilst on the house scene there were the first tunes with a clear garage shuffle (Todd Edwards, Masters At Work, Swing 52 etc), which would go on to seed the UKG sound a couple of years later.

In Britain the full-throttle-techno scene was booming with the infamous Club UK opening in London and Spiral Tribe doing illegal acid techno damage, ambient techno hit a new gear with classic releases from Aphex Twin, B12, Black Dog etc, but for me the most exciting music came out of the breakbeat rave scene, with a new wave of innovations that took things faster, wilder, and off in new directions. By the middle of 1992 the average rave track had zoomed away from house grooves to around 140bpm, but by the end of 1993 160bpm had become the new standard.

And within that new tempo bracket a slew of sub genres were born. There were tunes that kept with the rave stab and piano feels of 1992, but also deeper, so-called intelligent rollers most associated with Bukem and his Good Looking label, stompier jungle techno cuts championed by the likes of Tango & Ratty, the first classic no-longer-proto jungle tunes, happy hardcore was in its infancy, and above all there was a huge amount of darkcore tunes, squeezing bizarre new sounds out of the available technology. Whilst it was not uncommon to hear tunes from all of the above on a night out or played together on pirate radio in my experience the dominant sound were tunes that lent towards the deep the dark and the dirty.

It has to be said that a lot of people bailed out of the rave scene at this point, due to the darker turn in vibe and direction. One reason for the change in mood that doesn't get talked about much was a change in drug use. The pure loved-up empathy inducing MDMA of the second summer of love was replaced by "pills", which could have all manner of drugs within them. One infamous and common batch in 1993 was the Snowball. Supposedly these weren't MDMA but MDA - a very different, more psychedelic thing it turns out. 

I read once that the source of these snowballs came from a government laboratory in Latvia. After splitting from the Soviet Union, Latvia needed Western currency and had the advantage of no drug laws, so they joined up with a German businessman to produce MDA for export as Ecstasy. This went well for a couple of years until a consignment of 10 million tablets was intercepted in Frankfurt airport, since when MDA has been rare. This along with increased use of coke and crack must surely have had a partial effect on the sound, leading to a new intensity and I would go as far as to say profundity....some serious tunes in 93!

So yeah, the mix here focusses on some personal favourites in that deep dark and dirty vein - these are the kind of tunes that spring to mind when I think of 93....sounds like had never been heard before, nasty drum programming and a mystical ruff ride down long dark tunnels and occasionally back out into the light. 

I love 93 to bits so I really wanted to get this mix just right and ended up putting several weeks into this, tweaking the track selection and order, working out double breakdowns and double drops and practising the long mixes...hope you enjoy it. Big dedication to everyone who likes it dark and to all the 93 heads, 30 years on and still rolling... x 

1993 Deep Dark Dirty DnB - 30th Anniversary Mix

Potential Bad Boy - Work The Box

Ment 4 Bass - You Don't Know

On Remand - Blacksteel

The Anthill Mob - Black Rushin'

Studio Pressure - Jump MkII

Bizzy B - Ecstasy Is A Science

Acro - Superpod

DJ Rap & Aston - Jeopardy (DJ Spice Mix)

DJ Crystl - Warp Drive

Johnny Jungle - Flammable (DJ Hype Remix)

Lemon D - Something I Feel

Static Substance - Ghetto People

Jim Polo - Heavyweight

Ravemaster Vibes & Wishdokta - Freeaneazy

Under Graduates - Into Da Future (Massive Mix)

D.O.P.E. - When I Was Young (DJ Easy B & T-Bags Revisited Mix)

Original DJ Vibes - All Crew

Hopa & Bay B Kane - Hoppa

DJ Trace & Ed Rush - Clean Gun

The Bombsquad - Freebase

Naughty Naughty - Untitled B

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Back To The Future 1992 Rave Mixtape

The UK breakbeat rave sound of 1992 celebrates its 30th anniversary! I'm marking this milestone with a mixtape: in a classic C90 cassette style two sides of 45mins each, taking in the spectrum of sounds of the era. It was a year when tempos raced ever faster and so the theme here is Side A has tunes at the 130-140 bpm mark, and Side B 150+ bpm tunes. Across the two mixes I've tried to touch on a range of the sounds that dominated the raves: some pianos, endless stabs, some vocals, some heavyweight hardcore, some jungle tinges, and towards the end going into the darker moods that would become more dominant in 1993. Some well known cuts and some rarer ones in there too.

I think you'd be hard pressed to pick a more explosive moment in British music history than the raves of 1992. The momentum of electronic dance music was building ever stronger and reached a big bang moment in 1992, rave went from being a more underground and exclusive thing to blowing up across the country - your local leisure centre might have Grooverider playing at it on any given Saturday! 

The melting pot of punters and producers became ever greater, including an influx of urban, suburban and country young guns, and I'd say the musical melting pot became the most eclectic it has ever been in dance music: so many ideas and influences thrown against the sampler wall. And a great moment of grassroots music making too - the whole industry from producers, distro, sellers, radio, events was grown from the bottom up. DIY all the way.

I think the 1992 sound, although so anthemic for those who were there, has now been slightly sidelined as the tunes are a touch out of step with modern sensibilities, modern tastes are a bit leaner and more refined. But that's the joy of 1992 - it was driven by a wide-eyed don't give a fuck and having it attitude that's hard to recreate after the fact.

Really hope you enjoy these two mixes. Big love as always to all my 92 raving gang, also to you and your raving gang, and special dedication to Class of 92 raver Neil DJ Orange Peel - RIP mate, never forgotten. If you want more there are more 1992 mixes on my blog here, here, here, and also this recent 1992 strictly Junglism one.

Back To The Future 1992 Rave Mixtape - Side A: Coming Up 130-140bpm

Virtual Reality - Time 4 Change

Dragonfly - Visions Of Rage

EQ - True Devotion

Dave Charlesworth - Energizer Vol1 B

EOAD - Ecstasy On A Dream

Project One - Smokin Chalice

Desired State - Duckin and Divin

System Exclusive - Fusion

Bass Ballistics - Smoke Dis One

Code 071 - Bassline Dub

Flex and Uncle - Red Black 4

The Charm - Dementation

DJ Phantasy & DJ Gemini - Never Try The Hippodrome

DJ Phantasy & DJ Gemini - Rough Beats Producing Bass

Dj Splix - Nasty Rhythm (Nasty Rhythm Mix)

Krome + Time - This Sound Is For The Underground (E.5 Remix)

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Back To The Future 1992 Rave Mixtape - Side B: Rush Hour 150+bpm

Jill Jones Intro

Acen - Obsessed

Metal Heads - Knowledge

Tom & Jerry - The One Reason

Andy C - Mind Rise

The House Crew - We Are Hardcore (Magic Fantasy Mix)

Carl De Junglist - Sundown

Noise Factory - My Mind

DJ Clarkee - Have A Good Time

MC Jay J & Devious D - Drive Ya Crazy

Nasty Habits - Lets Go (Cold Remix)

Bay B Kane - Theme Spirit

Scott & Keith - Get Busy Cru

Wax Doctor - New Direction

Sound Corp - Security Overload

DJ Genisis & Kenny X - Wheel The Bass

Ellis Dee - Dance Factor

Tango & Ratty - Final Conflict

Chaos & Julia Set - Atmosphere (Sub-Base Field Mix)

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Junglism Pt.4 - Future Jungle 2017-2021

For the final part of this Jungle mix series I'm playing some of my favourite tracks from recent times. There is definitely a Jungle revival going on - has been bubbling for a while - but I think 2020 could go down as a vintage year and a turning point - seems to be so many good tunes have come out this last year. It would really be great to see more of the longtime DnB producers making some Jungle tunes in the 160+bpm range, and for the scene to have those two gears, of new DnB and new Jungle both going as strong as one another.

Nothing but love and respect to all the producers and labels putting out this music, and promoters putting on the nights. Got to send a big shout out to all the Distant Planet family who have been doing so much in keeping the oldskool vibe alive here in London. 

Really hope you've been enjoying this mix series - if you haven't already, do check out the earlier chapters, Part 1 Proto Jungle 89-91, Part 2 Pirate Jungle 92, Part 3 Golden Jungle 93-95. 

Junglism Pt.4 - Future Jungle 2017-2021

Ark X - X2LV (2019)

Joakuim - Jungle Power (2017)

Specialist X - Mind Signs (2020)

DJ Stretch - Kisses (2020)

Break - Sesame Seeds (2020)

Foul Play  - A.I (The Last Ronin Remix) (2020)

Ricky Force - Real Love (2017)

Coco Bryce - Ma Bae Be Luv (2020)

Duburban - Back For More (2021)

Missing & Mr Time - Original 90s (2020)

Keezee & Tim Reaper - The Roughneck Sound (2020)

FFF - Gaze Out (2017)

Shay - Badboy (2020)

Sully - Werk (2020)

Marcus Visionary - Real Warrior (L-Side Remix) (2020)

Decibella - Outta London (2020)

Zere & DJ Hybrid - Inside The Dance (2020)

Enjoy - Sincere Whispering (2020)

Pete Cannon - It’s Like Ecstasy (2020)

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Junglism Pt.3 - Golden Jungle 1993-95

Part 3 of the UK Jungle mix series, this one covering the golden age of 1993-1995, when the jungle sound blew up, where the tempos of 160-170bpm got settled on, and the formulas gelled together into a tradition. That said, the line of 'what is Jungle' is always a blurry one - is a firing ambient amen Bukemesque track from the period Jungle? Or a darkcore roller? For me Yes and No. Genre names are useful but they can also be restrictive, and there are so many different moods and directions you can play a Jungle set from this period (such as this recent mix of mine focussing on loved up jungle).

What I've tried to do here is keep clear of the harder amen rinse outs, and also anything too cosmic or gurn inducing (much as I love all of that!). Going for a more bubbling vibe, with some deeper drum workouts and a couple of rarer ones in there to keep it interesting. 

Next up after this, for the final mix in this series, Part 4, I'll be playing some new tunes that are reviving the jungle tradition in fine style. 

Junglism Pt.3 - Golden Jungle 1993-95
160-170bpm

1. Family of Intelligence - Learning From My Brother (1993)
James Stephens, the man involved with those pivotal Noise Factory releases of 1992, here breaking new ground and creating new formulas for the Jungle sound of 1993. Jungle breaks, rare groove samples, dancehall attitude - a template of what was to come, and a step aside from anything too ravey sounding. Released on the mighty Kemet label, such an important camp for out-and-out jungle in 93 and 94. Long mixing this one with:

2. Gappa G and Hypa Hyper - Information Centre (DJ Ron Remix) (1993)
9pm Friday nights there was only one was place to be: locked in to Kool FM for DJ Ron and SL, with MCs 5ive-O and Moose. The definitive jungle radio show of all time in my opinion. Ron not only a visionary DJ, but also a massively talented producer, whose tunes, especially Canaan Land, Mo Musik, Crackman and this one here are I think masterpieces of the genre. Really clever arrangement and elements.

3. Roni Size - Fresh (1993)
1993 was the year Roni Size burst onto the scene, and this one also the first official release on Jumping Jack Frost and Bryan Gee's newly formed V Recordings - the rest is history! Still sounds so fresh this one I think.

4.  White Label  (1993)
Absolutely personal favourite underground white label pressure. Not that its even possible to do this in this day and age, but I'm going to keep the name on this one held back.

5. Code 071 - Ease Up Soundboy (Don Gargon Mix) (1993)
Slightly overlooked release on Reinforced Records I think, with a brilliant dreamlike breakdown in the second half, from the pair that made the classic A London Sumtin.

6. Simon Bassline Smith - Music and Life (1993)
Massive 2-track EP from Simon Smith, another enormous figure still going as strong today as thirty years ago. Both sides of this got caned. All about the power of a bassline this track. Proper vibes, seminal EP. Impossible not to long mix this right up to the breakdown.

7. Potential Bad Boy - 4 The Ladies (1993)
Another mighty release from PBB. I think this possibly one of the first ever tracks to really get that ragga-jungle thing sitting quite so neatly in the drum feel. I'm a sucker for Melody Madness on the A side, but that gets a bit hardcore in places.

8. DJ Solo - Darkage (1993)
I don't know how others see this track but for me this is probably the jungle anthem of 1993. From what I can see its never been licensed to compilations and the like, and maybe that's kept it status slightly more low key, but this was rinsed so hard at the time. Was in two minds whether to include it, as rinsed tunes can only be heard so many times, but personally I never tire of this one. Great fun to mix in and to mix out, begs to get played. All about the bassline. Every day and every night, jungle it.

9. Doc Scott - Far Away (1994)
One of the first releases on Goldie's freshly launched Metalheadz label, from the mighty Doc Scott. At first glance this might seem a mellow ambient tune, but on a system it really packs a punch and the jungle drum feel and bassline really make it come alive. Moving into a deeper section of the mix with this.

10. Smith and Mighty - Come Fly Away (Dub) (1994)
Following the theme of Far Away, flying off dubwise on this one - a unique rubadub sounding tune this I think from Bristol's Smith and Mighty.

11. Timmi Magic - Everything (1994)
Timmi Magic is best known as part of the legendary UK Garage trio Dreem Teem, but in 94 he was producing jungle, and this EP is a personal favourite. I played the other side in my recent Jungle Love mix. A lesser known record, but I think its got something special about it. 

12. The Family Foundation - Express '95 (Steve Gurley Remix) (1995)
A wicked upfull jungle update on a huge tune from 92 from Foul Play's brilliant Steve Gurley.

13. Dillinja - Tear Down (Da Whole Place) (1995)
Had to include a Dillinja tune, such an important figure. This one perhaps a slightly lesser known one I guess, as much as that is possible in such a revered discography. Deep rolling. 

14. Bizzy B - 16 Track Ting  (1995)
Bizzy is a monster and is responsible for some of the wildest tunes to ever come out of the rave scene. By comparison to some of those tunes this one is kind of reigned in but is as powerful a tune of his as any of them. I said in the intro Id hold back from amen rippers in this mix but here's one for good measure. 

15. Noodles & Wonder - Rarities (1995)
Getting to the last quarter, moving into three more soulful jams. Noodles became a big name on the UKG scene as Groove Chronicles, but was also well known for working in a range of record shops around London. This one a spot on rares-to-ragga cut. 

16. Hot Steppers - Vol1 A (1995)
Undercover release from DJ SS, no doubt because of sample clearance issues. I don't care what they say, always had a big soft spot for this.  

17. Dextrous - Moonlight (1995)
Unreleased rare-to-ragga jungle from King of the Jungle Dextrous. Got to send big thanks to Steph for the dubplate hook up - wicked track.

18. Andy C - Roll On (1995)
Finishing on an undisputed classic, Andy C proving that whatever year it is he can create era-defining music.

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Junglism Pt.2 - Pirate Jungle 1992

Part two of the UK Jungle mix series, moving on from the proto years of 1989-1991 to look at the transitional but foundational year of 1992. Calling this mix Pirate Jungle as such a key role was played by pirate radio stations, particularly the likes of Weekend Rush, Kool and Defection (all broadcasting from the Nightingale Estate in Hackney) in forging this as a sound apart, and pushing tunes that often didn't get played at the big raves. 

1992 was an incredible year in which rave blew up in the UK, and thousands of wide-eyed youngbloods (like me!) poured onto dancefloors across the country. The music went crazy too, with tempos getting ever faster, and a manic mix of elements: pianos, pitched up vocals, stabs, pads, basslines, endless samples, often all crammed into one short tune. Hardcore dominated.

But in amongst this outpouring of wild creativity were some leaner tunes that carried a purer Jungle thinking, drawing more explicitly on the influence of earlier Black dance music forms, and particularly the logic of UK's soul and reggae soundsystem culture. This is a showcase of a few favourite tunes from that time. 

Got to shout my brother Fabrok who in 92 DJ'd on Kool FM (Kool celebrating 30 years of nonstop Jungle/DnB broadcasting this year) and turned me on to so much of the music played in this mix series. Forever in debt. 

Still to come: Part 3 Golden Era Jungle and Part 4 Future Jungle selection.... Part 1 Proto Jungle Years mix here.

Junglism Pt.2 - Pirate Jungle 1992
140-150bpm

1. Liquid - Liquid Is Liquid (Remix)

For the first two tracks in this mix I'm going in dubwise - this one loosely based on a Jah Shaka production, or so I've heard. Liquid most famed for their massive hit Sweet Harmony. Billy Bunter says he often played this as the last tune at Labyrinth in 1992.

2. Tic Tac Toe - 456
Immense twelve inch that absolutely brought the clattering weight and power of a soundsytem roots dance to a rave setting. This and Ephemerol on the other side, and the remixes too = all amazing records. Was surprised to find out it was co-made by Simon Ratcliffe of Basement Jaxx fame. 

3. Wots My Code - Most High
This is what you all have been waiting for! Stepping out of the dubwise opening two tracks into the jungle breaks. This from a seminal jungle EP best known for the foundational "I Tell the DJ What To Play" 1992 jungle anthem Dub Plate, but always loved this track and Bachelor Rock off that EP, lesser played underground jungle tunes. 

4. CMC - Greetings
Chris McFarlane on Ibiza Records under the early CMC alias - Chris best known now as jungle heavyweight Potential Bad Boy, a name under which he still dons the jungle scene to this day. Legend.

4. Noise Factory - Warning (Dub Mix)
Following Greetings, another track released on Ibiza records. Noise Factory an act that simply helped write the jungle book in 1992 with a string of essential releases, not least the totally groundbreaking Capsule EP which zoomed away from the more standard 140-150bpm range of the time (as in this mix) up to 160 and even 170bpm, where jungle and DnB would end up following.

5. Smith & Mighty - Killa
Track from Bristol's Smith and Mighty, played at the wrong speed of 45 instead of the 33 it was meant to be played at. I think of this one as absolutely a Kool FM special - one of those secret finds that passed its way around the DJs on the station. I think I first heard this played by the mighty Brockie.

 

6. SLM - Nice N Slow
SLM - South London Massive! The mighty Darren Jay and DJ Yomi. Such a unique tune this one - one of the first stripped back rollers. Natural mystic style. 

7. Guy Called Gerald - 28 Gun Bad Boy

First released in 1991 and again in 1992, this just sounded unlike anything else. Gerald's experimental approach to dance music at this time absolutely opened new ground for the jungle sound. His track Boase Up, also from 1992 was another early junglist test of breaking the 160bpm speed barrier.

8. MC Uproar - Bad Boy
Squeezing this in to the mix without its piano section - killer rattling snares and bassline as we go back-to-back bad-boy/bad-girl in the mix >>>

9. Potential Bad Boy - Bad Girl
Another from Chris McFarlane - couldn't miss this one out. What a bassline.  

10. D-Livin - Why
Total anthem, one of the first tunes that to my ears kinda has that rubadub-meets-soul vibe to it that became such a definitive part of the Jungle formula.

11. Undercover Elephant - Cockney Badboy
Remember hearing this at Orange at the Rocket and a little pocket of cockney badboys broke out into a collective one foot skank circle! The little Don't Stand So Close To Me sample cracks me up to this day - that's how I feel now if someone comes in to my precious dancefloor space lol. All cockney badboys hang on...

12. Progression - On A Rubbish Tip
I heard the title is a joke response to SL2's On a Ragga Tip, which hit the charts in a big way. Absolutely heavyweight white label. Huge respect goes out to Mixmaster Max who I heard play this, and so much jungle of this period. A total pioneer, currently with a new radio show on Sunday nights on Unity DAB.

13. Jazz & Flecks - D! Redlox (Vital Mix)
I think fair to say this is an obscure one - have been hunting it down myself for years after hearing it played by Rusher on Weekend Rush back in 92. Huge thanks to JJ at Rolldabeats for sorting me out.

14. 2 Da Core - Rub a Dub
Personal favourite killer jungle rave energy white label, the other side a cracker too.

15. The Psychopaths - Beats & Culture (Psycho Dub)
Unique sounding tune this, bubbling breakbeat rave meets dub logic in fine fashion. Love this. All the Psychopath's tunes had a better-than-the-original dub version, and they're all worth seeking out. Shout to Defection's Force of One.

16. The Brothers Grimm - Exodus
A massive track from Floyd and Syed of the Production House crew that got a lot of rave play too. Those guys really knew how to put together huge tunes.

17. Alien - Forseeing The Future (Reggae Mix)
Making great use of the sample from Fabian's reggae classic Prophecy, a killer dubwise rave bomb. 

18. Ad break
A little 1992 jungle pirate radio advert!

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Junglism Pt.1 - Proto Jungle 1989-1991

Welcome to the first in a series of four mixes tapping into the past and present of the UK Jungle sound. For this first instalment I'm going back to 1989 to touch on the breakbeat-rap foundations upon which the subsequent emergent prototype Jungle sound of 1990 and 1991 was built on. Absolute time of  culture creation.
Look out for Pt 2 1992 selection, Pt 3 will be the golden age of 1993-94, and Pt 4 will take it up the new wave of jungle producers putting out tunes today. Really hope you enjoy the series. 

Junglism Pt.1 - Proto Jungle 1989-1991
120-130bpm

 1989 - The Breakbeat Rap Roots 

1. Most Wanted - Calm Down (Instrumental) - 1989

A classic breakbeat rap instrumental that got pitched up and played in house sets by the likes of Fabio and Grooverider. As a nod to the era I've doubled and cut this one up a bit - if I could scratch I'd have scratched on it too! Hip-Hop DJ skills crossed over with dance djing in these days in a way that has sadly been lost.

2. Success-N-Effect - Roll it up (Bass Kickin Beats) - 1989

Another hot US breakbeat-instrumental import. Frankie Bones tells this story:  "December 13th 1989 ... Carl Cox had us over his house to show us his new recording studio. Lenny Dee & I had got Carl a copy of Success-N-Effect on 12" which by that point was the most sort after 12" from me caning it every show. Carl was ready to start producing but joked about how he needed to get his head around all the gear he purchased. This is when I told him, "all you got to do is take this record, Success-N-Effect, ride a couple of new sounds over it and press white labels! Stamp your name on it." That tune become Carl's 1990 rave classic Let The Bass Kick.

3. Public Enemy - Welcome To The Terrordome (Terrormental) - 1989

The musical influence of Public Enemy cannot be understated, particularly the production skills of Hank Shocklee and the Bomb Squad. The two LPs Nation of Millions and Fear of a Black Planet contain probably the most innovative, militant, firing, breakbeat-centred use of a sampler up to that point. Public Enemy tracks themselves were endlessly resampled by UK producers too. This instrumental a classic example of the power of the Bomb Squad.

4. Silver Bullet - Bring Forth The Guillotine [DJ Beats Mix] - 1989

The 80s explosion in US rap inspired many a UK act, who often gravitated to rhyming over a faster beat than US artists. There's a parallel here with the UK fast-chat dancehall style of the likes of Tippa Irie, Daddy Freddy and Smiley Culture - itself another big influence on Jungle. Silver Bullet was one of the best of the UK fast-rap acts, and this track along with 20 Seconds To Comply made its way into many dance sets, played here in the instrumental cut.

1990 - Into The Proto Jungle 

5. Rebel MC and Tenor Fly  Comin' On Strong (Ruff Neck Mix) - 1990

For my money this might just be the most complete, first ever jungle tune. Up to '89 Michael West aka Rebel MC was finding his sound in a more straight rap fashion, but in 1990 he pushed the boundaries that much further and created some crucial foundational jungle sounding tunes, first with this cut and then the all mighty Wickedest Sound, followed in '91 with the anthemic breakbeat rave reworking of Barrington Levy's Here I Come as Tribal Base.

This ingenuity didn't come out of nowhere - I've uploaded here a clip of stalwart rave deejay Billy Daniel Bunter introducing a clip from an 1987 Acton All-Dayer party hosted by Rebel MC in which both Rebel and the mighty DJ Ron (who would go on by 1994 to claim the title of Jungle Don) were bringing together the cultures of US breakbeat rap, electronic dance music and Jamaican dancehall live on stage and in the mix. Amazing historical clip - do give it a listen.

6. Language - Renegade (The Cryptic Mix) - 1990

A killer slice of underground bleepy breakbeat dance with a touch of ragga from Mark Simon, who would go on to produce the classic 1992 anthem Just 4 U London and personal favourites Eyes On The Horizon and The Strength.

7. Satin Storm - Satin Storm - 1990

Not really words to say how much this track meant back in the day, played this on a loop. Clearly drawing on dub for the bassline, and cleverly using the riff from The Revolutionaries classic Kunte Kinte, but bringing a whole lot more depth and magic beyond that. A true classic, and check also the track Can't Take No More from the same EP for another slice of raw proto-jungle. Salute Satin Storm.

8. Meat Beat Manifesto - Radio Babylon - 1990

Although not really involved with, or even making music for the rave scene, this classic dubby track from MBM was one that smashed the dancefloors in the UK, from illegal raves to the Hacienda, the echoing drums kind of capturing the rattle and reverb of a warehouse.

9. Energize - Like Dis (Full Dread Mix) - 1990

A killer slice of breakbeat house with a dancehall flavour from the legendary Dave Lee aka Joey Negro, who has gone on to be such a key figure in the worlds of house and disco to this day. Top tune.

10 . 4 Hero - The Scorcher (Dance Mix) - 1990

4 Hero are in my opinion unsung heroes of British music, never mind just the rave scene. Total pioneers, and their label Reinforced pivotal for developing and pushing the limits of hardcore, jungle and DnB. And whilst this track is kinda bleepy, it slams with that jungle drum energy. Powerful on a system. 4 Hero also went on to smash the jungle sound under their Tom & Jerry alias. Crucial on every level.

1991 - Call It Jungle

11. V 4 Visions - Joy In The Jungle - 1991/1992

A personal favourite release on a white label EP called Jungle Bizznizz - raw production on this but a brilliant feel. By the end of 1991 the word Jungle was definitely being directly associated with this UK breakbeat rave sound. Worth checking the whole 4 track EP, Return of the Funki Dreads another proto-jungle nugget favourite of mine, with more of a house feel.

12. Dee Pattern - Who's The Bad Man (Sound System Mix) - 1991

Such an iconic and powerful track. One thing of interest to say about it is that not only is it one of the original proto jungle tracks, but the opening 24 bars are as far as I'm aware the first programming of a UKG/Funky drum pattern! Pure innovation.

13. G Double E - Fire When Ready - 1991

Brilliant slice of jump up b-boy proto jungle this. Involved in this track's production is Kris Ogden who was also pushing boundaries as part of Genaside II, whose proto cuts Sirens Of Acre Lane (1990) and Narra Mine (1991) could so easily have been included in this mix.

13. Demon Boyz - Dett (Speaker Feeder Mix) - 1992

Cheekly skipping up to 1992 for this one, but its got that 1991 energy and template. Demon Boyz bringing together fast-rap and fast-chat in a UK slang over a Rebel MC production. On the flip is an instrumental proto rave monster, Jungle Dett (Hardcore House Mix), but I wanted to feature the vocals on this mix as MC crews like Demon Boyz don't get the recognition in the UK rap world that led on to jungle MCing, and now to chart topping grime acts.

14. MI7 - Rockin' Down The House - 1991

A massive hit of a tune this one, anthem status, and has a crossover appeal that kind of pre-empts SL2's 1992 charting hits Way in My Brain and On A Ragga Tip.

15. Ragga Twins - Spliffhead - 1991

"Reggae beat taking over"....The mighty Spliffhead. PJ and Smiley aka Shut Up and Dance on production, two guys utterly pivotal in the formation of jungle, firmly fusing their earlier breakbeat rap production sensibilities into the new proto jungle sound, and bringing in fellow Hackney MCs Ragga Twins into the fold, who in turn helped bring in other dancehall soundsystem MCs over to the rave scene.

16. Code 0171 -  A London Sumtin' - 1991/1992

Released on 4 Hero's Reinforced, can't express how much i loved and still love this one. Pure London Jungle attitude. Also on the flip is a secret B2 favourite Stand Together Yo Breakthrough Instrumental. Co-producer Biz can today be caught today on Nuwave Radio as part of the Cyberworks pair with Denz, playing broken beat, hip-hop, jazz, house and techno and the like, Reinforced fashion. Official release date on this is 1992 but have heard a tape of this being played at the very end of 1991 so presume it was ready then.

17. Lennie De Ice - We Are I.E. - 1991

Total classic. Lennie associated with the De Underground record shop crew of Forest Gate in East London - Mike, DJ Randall, Cool Hand Flex, Uncle 22, and MC Fats, who collectively did so much to carve out the jungle sound over the following years. 

Download link

YesYesTV - Weekly Shows and Archive

YesYesTV is our new live streaming DJ channel. At this moment we're doing two weekly shows - 5 hours of mixes a week!

On the Dance With Power show I play the best in DnB, Jungle, Hardcore, Techno, All flavours of House Music, Roots Rock Reggae, and Stepping Dub. Streams every Wednesday 9-11pm GMT

                       

Then on Sundays 4-7pm GMT join us for the Nice and Easy show, with me Mikus joined by Rutita playing some cool out Sunday selection: Funk, Soul, Jazz, Disco, Rocksteady, Reggae and a whole lot more.

                       

The best thing about streaming live is interaction, so do please log in and send a message in the chat boxes.

To tune in live go to YesYesTV:
www.twitch.tv/yesyestv and also streaming at www.youtube.com/mikusmusik

To keep in touch with upcoming shows and so on please follow at:
Twitter https://twitter.com/yesyesldn and https://twitter.com/mikusmusik
Facebook www.facebook.com/YesYesLDN and www.facebook.com/mikusmusik/
Insta www.instagram.com/yesyesldn  + www.instagram.com/mikus_musik/

As much as possible I'll be archiving the shows here on the blog, with YouTube, Mixcloud and Download links. Check the YesYesTV Archive page linked at the top of the page.

If at all possible video from the sets will remain archived on Youtube, but some shows get blocked because of audio copyright. In those cases I hope to at least have the audio available for download and also on Mixcloud.

Hope you can tune in!

Jungle Love: a 1994-95 Luved-Up Jungle Selection

Not just your everyday jungle mix - this ones for the lovers in the house! An hour of love-inspired, sweet and emotional junglism from the classic years of 1994 and 1995. Strings, pads, pianos and vocals mixing it with the amens, blowflys and subs. Big dedication to the luved up crew, to my original 94 raving gang, and biggest kiss of all to the RMVT xxxx not forgetting big love to Benji B and the new padawan.

Jungle Love 1994-95

Deeper Love - Dillinja & Mystery

Special Dedication (Ladies Mix) - DJ Nut Nut

High Time (Nookie Remix) - DJ Trax

Rhythm - Engineers Without Fears

She's So - FBD Project

Being With You (Van Kleef Remix) - Foul Play

Something I Feel - Ray Keith

So Sweet - Hopa & Bones

Its Not Enough - Orca

Only You - Nookie

Togetherness - Timmi Magic

Your Mind (Gimp/Steve Mix) - The Gimp

The Love Statement - DJ SS

So This Is Love - Essence of Aura

Deep Inside of Me - Codename John

Universal Love - 4Hero

Download link

Oi Oi! Music Is Our History EP

A little 4 track EP from me, a bunch of tracks vibing off some 1991 raving memories.
Free download links on all tracks - released under a Creative Commons 2.0 license.

Burning (MK2 Golf Mix)

Learning Process (Class of 91 Mix)

That's All I Want

Music Is Our History

Click on an individual track name above to download, or CLICK HERE to download the whole EP

1991 Hardcore Techno Bizniz

At this time of the year here in the UK Bangface, the annual 4-day all things hardcore dance festival goes off - and it really does go off!  Great crowd, with big contingents from Ireland, Scotland as well as Belgium and the Netherlands making the journey and really playing a big part in the mix of ravers. Bangface are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year so in that spirit here's a throwdown of some 1991 hardcore in a melting pot style, as it was back in the day, with UK breakbeat, Belgian + Dutch new beat and some US rave in there too. 1991 definitely the birth of a strain of fast and hard electronic dance music...not hyperbole to say that its music that changed the world a bit and without a doubt broke new musical as well as cultural barriers. No messing about, back to back tuff tuff tunes in here. Only for the headstrong ;) Send shouts out to all Bangface crew, Connection crew, Apathy, Danski, Mr Whippy, Fabrok, Handy, Phase 3, Adz, Krink, Steph, Orange Peel, Crumpet and everyone out there who never lost their hardcore. RIP Tango and RIP Marcus Intalex.
(For a more UK hardcore breakbeat ravers 1991 selection check out this old mix of mine: Flashback to 91 - Ravers Selection)

1991 Hardcore Techno Bizniz

E-Dancer - Velocity Funk [USA]
The Break Boys - My House Is Your House [USA]

Lost - The Gonzo [UK]

Nightmares on Wax - Aftermath (LFO Remix) [UK]

Turntable Hype - Turntable Hype (Amsterdam Mix) [Netherlands]

Bazz - House of Pax (Sanchid Mix) [Belgium]

Fierce Ruling Diva - My Name is House [Netherlands]

Chemical Company - Tronic Equator [UK]

Hackney Hardcore - Dancehall Dangerous v1 [UK]

Code 071 - Stand Together Yo Breakthrough (Instrumental) [UK]

DD Hass - Who's Hous'n [UK]

Indo Tribe - Owl [UK]
Ravebusters - Mitrax [Belgium]

Olympia - Art 3 [Belgium]

Mental Cube - So This Is Love [UK]

Download link

Defection 89.4 - Saluting the Pirate Legends

Defection logo with a cheeky use of the DTI logo in it!

I grew up locked to pirate radio - getting out to a rave was a once in a while thing, but radio was there every weekend, Friday through to Sunday night. 1992 was a golden period in London, with a whole host of hardcore jungle stations on the dial, with three in particular leading the way: Weekend Rush 92.3 , Kool 94.5 and the mighty Defection 89.4 - from what I gather all running out of the same corner of Hackney, centred around the Nightingale Estate.

There was something about Defection that, for me, was just that notch above the rest. Serious high quality DJs, always a top selection, good natured uplifting MCing, great little jingles - just a sweet vibe that you can't fake. Defection...the station in the right direction...

I've posted a bit about Defection in the past, but this post here has been triggered thanks to my good friend Steph J digging out a nice little article about Defection from 1992. The article is alright - written by someone outside the scene,  so not really asking the questions I'd ask - but a nice little feature nonetheless. Best of all for me are the pictures! All that time listening to these  tapes (for years after the original broadcast) and having no idea what the studio and djs looked like...till now.

So check below for the scans of the article, and alongside that I'm posting up a few CLASSIC Defection sets - with download links and mixcloud streaming links.

Not sure when Defection stopped broadcasting but if I remember rightly by around1995 the 89.4 frequency had the ground-breaking UKG station London Underground on it. Always wondered if there was a link between them and Defection...

Nothing but love to all Defection crew: Chunks, Miley, Chattabox, Mix Master Max, DJ Wicked, Sonic, Shire, Nitro, Sketch,Wise, Ram, Flight, Nicklebee, King Size, Force of One Crew, not forgetting Kemistry, Storm and all the rest, and extra big shout to Lt Stitch. 0831 323 099....

*If any old Defection crew see this post and can ID who's who in that photo up top, please post in the comments. In fact any other memories / facts / jokes, please post them!*

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT BIG!

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT BIG!

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT BIG! 

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT BIG!

SETS

Mix Master Max Masterclass - 1992
This is my hands down all time favourite pirate radio tape. Massive influence on me. Max was full of tricks: scratches, juggling doubles, and playing dancehall tracks and mixing hardcore tunes over the top - this in particular was a huge influence on me. Most importantly the selection was impeccable and unique. I heard him live once back in the day at Roller Express (Future Myth), and he did all the tricks live too
Download link Side A  ///// Mixcloud Stream Side A
Download link Side B ///// Mixcloud Stream Side B

Lt Stitch + Killer '92 Set + Defection 89.4 // 1993

Recorded in '93, Stitch lovingly tears through his favourite cuts from '92 - goosepimples and smiles guaranteed. Miley alongside.Bad bad set

Download link ///// Mixcloud Stream

Dj Wicked + Lt Stitch 

Wicked, aka Evil Ed, another Defection veteran, always fun sets with top notch scratching. Gold.

Download link ///// Mixcloud Stream

Feel Free - Killer 1993 Set

Feel Free was such a tight dj - brillinat set building and running mixes long - no quick cut crosses, just building tune on tune. Fantastic 93 set.

Download link  ///// Mixcloud Stream

Lt Stitch + Full Crew in the Place - 1992

Vibes in the studio with a full house in session and Stitch playing some top tunes

Download link ///// Mixcloud Stream

Fabio on Kiss 100 Tape Cache

From the years 1994-1997 the jungle sound split in several directions and different clubs and nights catered to the different sounds. The unity from the days before was still there in spirit, but things definitely did fragment - only natural i think - people wanted to push the sound and take it in different directions and express themselves as they saw fit. It would've been nice if there was more crossover, both in djs sets and in club line-ups, but on the whole it didn't happen so much.

I kept up on what was going on across the board but my heart was definitely in the Speed camp - Speed being a club night with resident DJs Fabio, Bukem, Kemistry & Storm, Doc Scott and Lee, which played tunes that if you had to describe them could be said to be deeper and more musically involved than what was going on on the upfront jump-up side of things. Really exciting times musically. Should also add I've got a little Speed Connection Facebook group here which you'd be more than welcome to join and post endlessly on.

1994 was the year that jungle blew up in the media and also the year that London's Kiss 100 FM - once a pirate station which got a legal license in 1990 - a little belatedly picked up on our UK breakbeat rave scene. The likes of Fabio, Rider, Bukem, JJ Frost, Randall, Hype, Kenny Ken and others played the slot on rotation - was the first time jungle got played on legal radio - and it was a great chance to hear tunes that wouldn't normally get played out in a dance, all kinds of (jumpy) dubplates, tunes that wouldn't come out for another year, and tunes that never came out at all. The whole scene was always pushing forward so fast that these shows were like a glimpse into the future...essential listening. Started at 9-11pm on a Wednesday if i remember rightly, but got pushed into a post midnight slot after a couple of years....

My flat mate used to particularly record Hype and Bukem's Cosmic Jam sessions, but I tended to go for the Fabio shows above all else - or at least those are the tapes that have lived to see the day 20 years on. Many didn't make it, including some early Giving it Up Slot Fabio & Grooverider sessions. Particularly gutted to have lost one which ended with Fabio playing some house tunes. Still not found that uploaded anywhere. Anyhow, we move on!

So here are the ones that made it. Thanks so much to RolldaBeats family for help with the tracklists (posted in the comments). Rolldabeats also has the best catalogue of all the Kiss Jungle Shows - check that here. Great hive-mind resource for those who care.

Before we get into it just got to pay respects to Fabio for all his hard work and almost single-handed commitment to pushing the sounds he does - hugely appreciated by a certain section of jungle music lovers. On the whole this was music that was sidelined at the time, and sadly even in an age of 24/7 jungle pirates and plenty old skool nights still remains sidelined... Interesting listening back to these tapes now and hearing Fabio talking about the splits and trying to keep the unity. So much good music and so many good memories attached to these sounds - a serious part of my life played out over these tapes.... Salute Fabio, and a big shout to all the original jungle soul boys and girls and all the Speed/Tempo/Swerve faithful.

     

Fabio on Kiss 100 Tape Cache

All tapes ripped at 320kbps. Hover over titles and right click and save as to download. Tracklists in the comments.

Fabio - Science - First Show - 1994

  Fabio's first solo show
"taking you through the spectrum...a little show, Im calling it: Science"

Fabio - Travelling - Science Pt2 - 1994 - Side A

Fabio - Travelling - Science Pt2 - 1994 - Side B
Fabio's second solo show... "music for the open minded"

Fabio - FreezeFire - 94-95 - Side A

Fabio - FreezeFire - Dec 94 - Side B
End of 94...turning the corner into 95

Fabio - Summer Bees Wax - 1995 - Side A

Fabio - Summer Bees Wax - 1995 - Side B
Getting into 1995 - by now Fabio really was carving out a distinct sound
"look ahead every single time" 

Fabio - Mutant Jazz - 1995 - Side A

Fabio - Mutant Jazz - 1995 - Side B
After a quiet start Speed was blowing up by this point

Fabio - Moving - Summer 95 Side W

Fabio - Moving - Summer 95 Side X
The soundtrack to the summer of 95...we had a proper heatwave that year 

Fabio - Lazy Days - 1995 - Side A

Fabio - Lazy Days - 1995 - Side B

More gold from 1995

Fabio and Grooverider - End of Year Spesh - 1995
F&G's xmas shows always great fun and filled with interesting chat

Fabio - New Days - Sept 1996 - Sides A+B
By 1996 the jazz elements were really coming to the fore

Fabio - Jazz Stepping - 1997 - Really  Side A

Fabio - Jazz Stepping - 1997 - Side A
The jazzstep becomes official

Fabio - RIP 1997 - Side A

Fabio - RIP 1997- Side B
Deeper and deeper into jazz and fusion sounds

A little bonus one - recorded from R1 and some great crowd vibes on this:
Fabio - Live at Sonar Festival Barcelona 2003 - Side A

Fabio - Live at Sonar Festival Barcelona 2003 - Side B

...also have some Rider tapes to rip - they'll go up later in the year i expect
and dont forget, tracklists in the comments