Here at High Tackle HQ we’ve uncovered a massive haul of early ninetees rave bangers, breakbeat hardcore and OG jungle…. The legend of Tameside Jimmy goes way back; from 5-night vision quests down the M1, to escapades on pirate radio, to ridiculous, but painfully true world record attempts (see below). Anyway, somehow, half his historic collection of free party music from rave’s golden years has ended up being unearthered by our Randall Marsh and a healthy selection is now available to buy from our store. From the early foundations of rude boy jungle, the hyper speed fairground music of hardcore to the anthemic, laser guided stadium rave sound of the whole country giving a collective middle finger up to the Tory’s, we’ve got it all. (but be quick on the draw peops!)
#1: CITRUS - FASCINATION / FRANTIC (1993)
Rocking a snazzy, tropically adorned centre label, Paradise Records arsehole tearing debut with Citurs. A sub-label of David Charlesworth's After Dark, it was an early pioneer of the hardcore sound before moving into darker jungle circles. The first of just seven records emerging from this camp during the vibrant and maverick UK rave scene in 1993. Comes with "Fascination", a beefy and brash wreckin' ball of nigh-on-gabba hyperspeed mayhem. And "Frantic", a laser guided warehouse raver big ont' hoovers n' sirens and surely a big Slipmatt banger. Serious, droppin' two straight grams of base amphetamine sulfate ain't even gonna prepare you for this amount of ball haulage.
#2: NORTHERN CONNEXION - RE-THINK / FOR FABIO (1995)
Another one from Tameside Jimmy’s classic jungle collection. Did you know Tameside Jimmy currently holds the Guinness (™) World Record for most bum rush attempts in one session? Set at an infamous Helter Skelter gathering back in ‘95 it featured over 40 legit bumrushes, an unfathomable feat and to this day, unbeaten. Anyway, it’s no wonder ol’ Jimmy’s smashed the fuck outta this one, pure liquid sunshine as it starts with a intro / build up that’ll make you feel you’re about to come up off a monumental whizz / pill combo. Teetering on the edge of a spaffingly orgasmic drop, we all sat faithfully holding our breath… only to be caught with our pants down as the drops about as anticlimatical as when you prematurely jizz yer kecks before getting past first base. Get a proper banger ready for after that epic build up and you’re laughing, otherwise live with another 4-minutes+ of tolerable breakbeat jungle with a few nice piano bits for the more patient (and drugged up) dancefloors. One for the purists or, if you’ve got the conkers, getting frisky in-tha-mix and choppin up the best bits with another choice weapon.
#3: HARD LEADERS - INTO THE JUNGLE (SIX PACK-PART 8) 1994
Moving rapid down the M25 (obvs on the way to the next Spiral Tribe or Frequency Oblivion all dayer) we stop via Ladbroke Grove's Kickin' Records to sample the breakbeat hardcore / proto-jungle contained within this V/A 12". Featuring early rude boy roller's and soundsystem staples from International Rude Boys, Soundcorp, a fuckin' ridiculous contribution from Omni Trio (!) and many other players from the halcyon days of the genre - when it was totally acceptable to be found topless on a Sunday morning 10 pills deep in a countryside park before cleaning yourself off ready for work back at the office on Monday.
Get those popper’s ready gees. Pure serotonin-floods guaranteed when this one drops with this bona fide rave classic. Penned and produced by Mark Anthony Clair of 4 Hero and infamously sampling Baby D’s “Day Dreaming”, “Oblivion” sees eyes roll back and jaw’s drop as we reach for the lasers and solve all the world’s problems in one epic moment of cultural unification under the alchemistry of MDMA. One of Manix’s finest moments and rightfully sought after by hoards of adult males who, by now, should surely know better. Check too the Charlie-esque bouncy fairground fun of “Never Been To Belgium” and dodgems-anthem “I Can’t Stand It” which should take us back to a time of innocently fingering the object of our adolescent desires at any northern pikey fun fair. Judgin’ by how much I reckon ol’ Jimmy musta caned this one back in’t day, it’s in remarkably good condition.
While we were losing our shit under a Tory-governed wasteland, it’s pleasing to know that over on the continent the Dutch were equally prepared to consume vast quantities of stimulants and dance to repetitive music for hours on end. I’m not historically educated enough to comment on the political and cultural climate of the country at the time, but judging by how rawkus and fuckin’ inspired the dance music coming out of Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam was in the early nineties, I bet it was as equally fucking shite as it was here and consequently the only way for the poor young sods to truly escape the daily grind. Either that or the ecstasy that was being manufactured there in such large and pure quantities trickled down through the masses and everyone just got mega at it. Whatever, records like this one reassure me that we have just as much in common with our fellow European cousins as anyone and these pesky Brexiteers just needed to be rounded up into the Thunderdome and force fed Purple Doves until they concede to another referendum.
Getting back in time for a Sunday roast with Mum, Dad & Heartbeat on TV we hightail it back up the M1 after a weekend of fun and frolicks and stop via Sheffield to revel in the delights of Robert Haigh’s inspired sci-fi drum and bass project Omni Trio. From the historical Moving Shadow archive it’s shows the genius direction Haigh took jungle, allowing it space to breath and connecting it with the post-club, weed-fuelled haze of the after party. This overlooked but polished relic from this fertile producer shows the depth and complexity he was willing to go with it, never losing touch with the dancefloor but injecting layers and layers of cerebral pleasure into the mix; out-of-nowhere uniting dance music’s diverse tribes under crushing bass, hypnotic rhythms and angelic atmospheres. Flawless.
Yeah so we got about 30 of Tameside Jimmy's choicest bangers going up on the hitackle shop but don't snooze. We know for a fact as soon as certain heads get a whiff of this we will be getting plundered quick time. Check out the full section here: http://www.hitackle.com/category/90s-hardcore-jungle-rave-etc
We've got a load more of this kind of stuff and a massive crate of £1&£2 DNB records if anyone wants to come to our Ancoats, Manchester HQ and have a dig in person - give us a shout to arrange.
Sign up to our mailing list at the top of this blog or email: hitacklerecords@gmail.com to be added. KP (Kickin' Pigeon) will be back soooon with some more selections, finds, thoughts and advice in the very near future so keep your eyes peeled and yer beaks open! RMx
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