DUST OFF: Top 15 electronic tracks from 1997 (Part 1)

It is becoming a tradition: After listing my favourites from 2005 and from 1996, the time is ripe for another end of the year selection from the archives. The second part can be found here.

Bizz O.D. – You May Be Hardcore But… (Force Inc. Music Works – FIM 123)
By mid-nineties, Khan and his consorts had become regulars on Force Inc, an influential European label back then. As Bizz O.D., Khan came out of your speakers in 1994 and three years later he thought you may be hardcore, but …

DJ Di’jital – Technohop (Direct Beat)
After exceptional harvest in 1996, highlighted by Aux 88’s “Is It Man Or Machine” album, Detroit’s Direct Beat went on with several new releases in 1997, including two EPs from DJ Di’jital, who is still around in the scene. And in 2018, watch out for the label’s rebirth as Direct Beat Classics.

DJ Hell vs. Richard Bartz – Break The Rulez (Kurbel)
Two Bavarian techno generators appeared on Bartz’s Kurbel Records with two whirlwind shots for the floor, a few years before DJ Hell become a Gigolo to ignite the electroclash boom.

Gigi Galaxy – Atomic Submarine (Teknotika Records)
From “The Pole Shift”, an outstanding electro and techno EP from Teknotika’s golden years. This is a classic to be worshipped.

Green Velvet – Destination Unknown (Relief Records)
After having defined Chicago’s new jack era with decade’s über-hits „Percolator“ (as Cajmere), „Flash“, „The Preacher Man“, the EP „Destination Unknown“ belonged to Curtis Jones’s most creative period as Green Velvet.

Jeff Mills – La Force (Purpose Maker)
In 1997, Mills’ Purpose Maker was still a fledgling imprint, but the smell of cult was not to be ignored. The rough opener from “Force Universelle EP” is a great match to the first “Waveform Transmissions” album.

Neil Landstrumm – Miami Vice (Tresor)
At first instance, “Bedrooms & Cities” sounded a strange bird in Tresor’s technoid roster, but Landstrumm’s album developed certain appeal when I listened to my copy with a double D-side.

Sandbenders – B3/Nebula Award Stories (800trak)
A decent release on short-lived German electro label.