Very experimental with its crazy drum programming and strange samples, especially considering the total tear out track that it followed (Volume 1).

The EZ Rollers’ remix of “Rollin'” takes it down a more traditional route with their trademark synths, chugging beats and some nice rolling bass.

Pretty much everything these guys touched back then was wicked. They went a little too commercial for me with the Lock Stock tune but their releases on Moving Shadow back in the day are some of my favourite tracks from the so called “intelligent” genre.

Danny Breaks has just released a double CD album paying homage to the label throughout the 90s, with unreleased material on disc two. Get it now here!

The post Droppin’ Science – Volume 2 (EZ Rollers Remix) appeared first on Drumtrip - Hardcore / Oldskool Jungle Blog.

Spring Heel Jack were a production duo who started their career experimenting with the mid 90s jungle sound, on the edges of the jungle scene.

Their debut LP ‘There Are Strings’ released on the respected Rough Trade imprint was a mix of lush atmospheric strings and chords with off kilter drums alongside a couple of downtempo / dub tracks. The stand out for me was the single that took the same name as the LP, ‘There Are Strings‘.

They have released albums consistently since then, moving more into more jazz and downtempo territory yet still with the odd, more experimental drum and bass sounding tune from album to album.

Today’s bargain jungle selection however is a remix by a name slightly more known for their all out hardcore and jungle work. Hyper On Experience’s unique take on hardcore in their early Moving Shadow won them many plaudits and the two members Danny Demierre and Alex Banks went on to become successful producers under other aliases. Danny’s solo work as Flytronix defined the lighter sound of mid 90s Moving Shadow, and Alex was also prominent on the label as one half of UK top 40 gatecrashers EZ-Rollers.

Wide As The Moon remix sounds less Hyper On Experience and more Flytronix however, with a structure similar to Danny’s classic ‘The Rhode Tune‘. The remix features crisp rolling two step drums alongside an upbeat 808 bassline. Add to this mixture the trimmed back string and sample elements of the original mix, and you have a perfect tune to slot into an 90s ‘mellow’ selection.

The remix appeared on a double vinyl release called ‘The Suspensions EP‘ which also featured two original tracks by Spring Heel Jack, and a remix of a track called ‘Midwest‘ by another well known Moving Shadow stalwart; Omni Trio.

As you would expect for a bargain jungle tune, this release is dirt cheap with plenty for sale on Discogs from just 99p.

The post Spring Heel Jack – Wide As The Moon (Hyper On Experience Remix) appeared first on Drumtrip - Hardcore / Oldskool Jungle Blog.

It’s sad…  In the 20th century, in the 1990s we have to still go the same bullshit route that other artists have to go to get acceptance.
If it wasn’t for the independents, if it wasn’t for the small little cities, and the few little ghetto guys trying to make music it would have never happened.

Some of these guys will never make a dime. Some of these guys will be poor and die alone. But in the process, they’ve been the true renegades. And the true rebels always walk alone anyway….

That is just about one of my favourite samples in music full stop.
Originally spoken by Techno godfather Derrick May, the original context was regarding the birth of Techno in Detroit, of which May was integral to alongside school friends Juan Atkins and and Kevin Saunderson.

What I love about the quote though is how it can refer to the underground music movement full-stop. It could apply to the birth of Hip Hop in South Bronx in the late ’70s, and as EZ Rollers may have intended, it can also apply to the creation of the UK Hardcore and Jungle scene.

But Retro isn’t just about that sample.

Released in 1997 on my favourite label of all time, Moving Shadow, it came at a time when label boss Rob Playford was balancing both the dark tech-step style with the deep, more musical side of Drum and Bass.

Retro falls nicely into the latter category and EZ Rollers were very much established in that sound. Using the ‘Cold Sweat‘ break to drive the track along, it breaks down into a downtempo rhodes section before dropping with some serious bass and saxophone combo.

Another reason I love this tune dearly is that it was featured on Toca 2 Touring Cars on the original Playstation, on the title and menu screen. A game I played to death as a youngster, before I really got into Drum & Bass.

And we may as well make this a bargain jungle track, because for some mad reason there are plenty of copies for sale on Discogs from just one lowly pound. A scandal for a tune this good.

The post EZ Rollers – Retro appeared first on Drumtrip - Hardcore / Oldskool Jungle Blog.

In 1993, Foul Play, Omni Trio, JMJ & Richie, Cloud 9 and Hyper On Experience to name a few; were all at the top of their game.

Two of them combined here to create a fantastic remix of the already great Hall Of Mirrors.
Omni Trio did what Foul Play had done so well; created a remix of a great tune but toughened it up and maybe simplified it a little for the dance floor.
Rob Haigh’s remix here takes away some of the elements of the original and add’s his own unique sound, with stuttery sub bass and twinkly keys and vox.
If you proclaim to be a Jungle fan but don’t get chills from this, something maybe wrong.

This track feature’s on my debut Drumtrip TV set here

The post Tune Of The Day: JMJ & Richie – Hall Of Mirrors (Omni Trio Remix) appeared first on Drumtrip - Hardcore / Oldskool Jungle Blog.

Roughneck tracks from the Kemet crew, Remarc, EZ Rollers and more.
A word from the man himself;

I gone done did a mix, ennit.

There are a few lesser known tunes in there along with some classics. It’s available to download and stream from Soundcloud. The track listing is as follows:

– Family of Intelligence & Beefy – God Alone [Kemet]
– DJ Flash – Pulp Fact [Urban Gorrila]
– Remarc – Sound Murderer (Loafin’ in Brockley Mix) [Planet Mu]
– FX – The Sound of FX [Tone Def]
– Dark & Deadly – Proline [Drum & Bass]
– The Boogie Down Kru – Cake [Runninz]
– Fusion ft Jucksey Nice – No Resistance [Kemet]
– Tek 9 – Pushing Back Remix [Reinforced]
– G-Force – Lively Body [Big Orange]
– Half Breed & Redneck – Selecta [24 Carat]
– 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Drowning in Her (4 Horsemen Mix) [Tone Def]
– E-Z Rollers – Believe (Foul Play Remix) [Moving Shadow]
– Family of Intelligence – October 16th [Kemet]
– Prisoner – Mr Fix It [London Somet’ing]
– Family of Intelligence ft Vernon Smith – The Seed [Parousia]
– Urban Shakedown ft D.Bo General – Some Justice ’95 (Nookie Remix) [Urban Shakedown]
– Siamese Minds – Killer Instinct [Collusion]
– DJ Vern & DJ Ash – Squeeze [Tearin Vinyl]
– Remarc – Ice Cream & Syrup (Hard Mix) [Planet Mu]
>Fallen Angels – Hello Lover (Desired State Remix) [IQ]

The post Evade – Whol’on Massive – Jungle Mix appeared first on Drumtrip - Hardcore / Oldskool Jungle Blog.