When (another) tour of the 1990’s revival is on, it’s time to recall some originals from that time. At the end of 2024, I decided to travel back three decades and select my favourites. Of course it’s a subjective choice and reflects the taste of one individual, but still will include many tracks that will raise the heart rate of many electronic fans. Here wo go with the second part, which is more ravey than the previous one. The visual is an excerpt from the Groove magazine no. 31 (Dec ’94 / Jan ’95).
TRACKLIST
- The Traxxmen – Here We Go Again (Muzique Records MR-111)
With proper jacking, Chicago’s house and ghetto collective reappears, after being featured in the first part. - Jeff Mills – Solid Sleep (Tresor 76)
Detroit innovator presented the album “Waveform Transmission Vol. 3”, which was largely as robust as its prequel a year earlier. - iO – Windy City (12 CHEAP 05)
Gollini, Potuznik, Pulsinger and Tunakan, the all-stars of the influential label from Vienna, from the “Decay EP”. - Voyager 8 – Transistor Rhythm (Synewave SW 04)
Pro teamwork in acid techno by Damon Wild and Steve Stoll. - DJ Skull – Skitzo Frantic Panic (Red Cat Records RC005)
Snare and bass mayhem that broke many floors around the world. Ron Maney, such a talent. - Emmanuel Top – Turkish Bazar (Attack TT-V 94 002)
The Doors, no? With the lyrics borrowed from Jim Morrison, the French producer created a memorable club smash. - Sensurreal – Sideshield (Beam Me Up! BMU 003)
As Perez & Dowell, the Dutch duo appeared in the first part too. Their “From Subversive Territory” was a massive tune, though here another track from that EP. - Tekonivel – Osmum (Tension Records TEN 3003)
Under the ‘Artificial Joint’ alias, Mika Vainio on a thundering floor trip. From the “Reuma E.P.” on cool Tension Records. - Robert Hood – Rhythm (Axis AX-007)
“Minimal Nation” might have been the album of the year. It’s hard to pick one track. Still, “Rhythm” is it, a prequel to the formidable “Spectral Nomad” EP by The Vision. - Basic Channel – Phylyps Trak II/I (Basic Channel BC 09)
Monochrome metallic dust from M.v.O. and M.E. as B.C. - Ausgang – Wires (Synewave SW02)
Steve Stoll solo here, with tense acidic grooves for Synewave, a prominent US/UK techno outfit. - Morganistic – Crimes And Misdemanours (Input Neuron Musique Ltd. INM LP 1)
Having encountered first Luke Slater’s “X-Tront” series, the full-length under Morganistic rose to my awareness only years later. - Love Inc – New Jack City (Force Inc. Music Works FIM 065)
A track by one of Wolfgang Voigt’s numerous aliases, on rotation in 1994 along with “R.E.S.P.E.C.T”. - Sirius-B – Spectrum Illuminae (Diverse Groove Department DGD 1T)
Swirling mid-tempo dance from UK, from their only release. - Voodoo Child – Horses (NovaMute 12 NoMu 32)
Moby’s acid dash, originally over 20 minutes at full speed. - Solar Quest – Acid Air Raid (George’s All Nighter) (Choci’s Chewns CC 004)
More hard acid trance, from the prolific Choci’s Chewns artist. - A’Simetric – Simetric (Kill Out Recordings KILL IT 12)
No rest allowed by the badass act on a sulphur-smelling label. - DJ Hyperactive – Kala Ulu (Drop Bass Network DBN017)
DBN was a hardcore haven and DJ Hyperactive belonged to the toughest bunch, being still active today. - Mike Henk – Connect (Analog Records USA ANALOG 06)
Barbaric acid techno from the man behind fantastic Pulsar Recordings. - Atlantic Ocean – Waterfall (Basic Mix BASIX – 099)
Widely charted trance hit from Dutch producers, as a mellow ending of this selection.There are many more to remember from 1994: many Relief and Cajual artists, Robert Armani, Insync vs Mysteron, Lumukanda, Beverly Hills 808303, etc., etc.