Breakbeat hardcore
Encyclopedia
Breakbeat hardcore is a derivative of the acid house
and techno, of the late 1980s and early 1990s, that combines four-to-the-floor rhythms with breakbeats, and is associated with the UK rave
scene.
(London
's orbital motorway), and its audience was mainly urban teenagers and lower middle-class suburban teenagers with cars. The audience was very much multi-cultural, with black, white and Asian influences resulting in a unique sound. The scene expanded rapidly in 1991, with large raves of 30,000 to 50,000 people attending in open air venues around England, put on by Spiral Tribe
and other free party
sound systems held at numerous locations up and down the length of England. This scene spawned the idea of holding huge parties rather than small clubs.
(later giving rise to drum and bass
) and 4-beat
(alternatively known as happy hardcore
). Jungle's sound was more focused on basslines, often with jazz-like undertones, whilst 4-beat retained the rave synths, the 4/4 kickdrum, and happier piano elements. By 1996, most 4-beat had dropped its breakbeats (in-part due to bouncy techno
), whilst drum and bass had long dropped the techno style synth stabs, thus further separating the two styles. The almost independent evolution of styles created distinct sounds of "bleep and bass", brutalist techno, hardcore jungle, pop-rave, UK garage
, and ragga-techno sounds.
, Full Effect Recordings, Great Asset, Pranged, Ibiza Records, Kickin Records, Kniteforce, Little Giant Music, Moving Shadow
, Network Records
, Production House Records
, Rabbit City recordings, Reinforced Records, Suburban Base
, Triple Helix, XL Recordings
, Soapbar Records, Liquid Wax, Impact Records, Unnatural Light
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
and techno, of the late 1980s and early 1990s, that combines four-to-the-floor rhythms with breakbeats, and is associated with the UK rave
Rave music
Rave music may either refer the late 1980s genre or any genre of electronic dance music that may be played at an electronic dance party such as a rave. Very rarely, the term is used to refer to less electronic related genres glam, powerpop, psychedelic rock and dub music parties...
scene.
The rave scene
The scene was driven around the M25 motorwayM25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
(London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's orbital motorway), and its audience was mainly urban teenagers and lower middle-class suburban teenagers with cars. The audience was very much multi-cultural, with black, white and Asian influences resulting in a unique sound. The scene expanded rapidly in 1991, with large raves of 30,000 to 50,000 people attending in open air venues around England, put on by Spiral Tribe
Spiral Tribe
Spiral Tribe is a free party sound system which existed in the first half of the 1990s, and became active again in 2007. The collective originated in west London and later travelled across Europe and North America. According to one member, the name came to him when he was at work, staring at a...
and other free party
Free party
A free party is a party "free" from the restrictions of the legal club scene, similar to the free festival movement. It typically involves a sound system playing electronic dance music from late at night until the time when the organisers decide to go home. A free party can be composed of just one...
sound systems held at numerous locations up and down the length of England. This scene spawned the idea of holding huge parties rather than small clubs.
Effect and fragmentation
The early 90s saw the shifting of the underground sound become more prevalent in the mainstream. Even without any radio play, many hybrid and regional styles made their way into Top 20 charts. However, during 1990, the two main subdivisions of this underground rave movement was primarily either house or techno (although often interchangeable or vaguely used to define a multitude of styles). However, between 1993 and 1994 the scene fragmented, and forked off into two distinct styles - jungle musicOldschool jungle
Jungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
(later giving rise to drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
) and 4-beat
4-beat
4-beat is a breakbeat style of music that emerged around 1993. It evolved from breakbeat hardcore emanating from the United Kingdom rave scene...
(alternatively known as happy hardcore
Happy hardcore
Happy hardcore, also known as happycore, is a genre of music typified by a very fast tempo , often coupled with solo vocals and sentimental lyrics. Its characteristically 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore techno, which tend to be "darker". It is typically in...
). Jungle's sound was more focused on basslines, often with jazz-like undertones, whilst 4-beat retained the rave synths, the 4/4 kickdrum, and happier piano elements. By 1996, most 4-beat had dropped its breakbeats (in-part due to bouncy techno
Bouncy techno
Bouncy Techno is a rave hardcore dance music subgenre that was developed in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands...
), whilst drum and bass had long dropped the techno style synth stabs, thus further separating the two styles. The almost independent evolution of styles created distinct sounds of "bleep and bass", brutalist techno, hardcore jungle, pop-rave, UK garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
, and ragga-techno sounds.
Record labels
786 Approved, Absolute 2, Awesome Records, Basement Records, Boogie Beat Records, Chill, Contagious, FFrreedom aka FFRR, Formation RecordsFormation Records
Formation Records is a Leicester-based drum and bass label that was founded in 1989 by DJ SS and his partner Eidris. The label came to prominence from 1992 onwards releasing countless classics of darkside hardcore/jungle over the next couple of years...
, Full Effect Recordings, Great Asset, Pranged, Ibiza Records, Kickin Records, Kniteforce, Little Giant Music, Moving Shadow
Moving Shadow
Moving Shadow was a UK-based jungle/drum and bass record label that was started in 1990 by Rob Playford. Alongside such labels as Suburban Base, Formation Records, D-Zone, Reinforced, and Metalheadz, Moving Shadow grew to become one of the best-regarded and longest-lived labels in its genre,...
, Network Records
Network Records
Network Records was a rave music independent record label, based in Birmingham, England, during the late 1980s and mid 1990s.The label concentrated on bringing Garage music to Britain & taking UK House music to a new level as well as playing a massive role in the development of Early Hardcore and...
, Production House Records
Production House Records
Production House Records was formed in 1987 by Phil Fearon. Laurie Jago and Raj Malkani. Fearon enjoyed a string of hits in the 1980s as producer and frontman of British soul/dance/pop collective; Galaxy....
, Rabbit City recordings, Reinforced Records, Suburban Base
Suburban Base
Suburban Base Records was one of the biggest British jungle/drum and bass record labels based in Romford, Havering, UK. It was established by Dan Donnelly and operated in the UK from 1989 to 1997 and in the United States from 1994 to 1997.- History :...
, Triple Helix, XL Recordings
XL Recordings
XL Recordings is a British independent record label owned by Richard Russell. It originated as a 1989 offshoot of Beggars Banquet Records.Though only releasing an average of six albums a year, XL Recordings has worked with The Prodigy, Radiohead, The White Stripes, Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A., Vampire...
, Soapbar Records, Liquid Wax, Impact Records, Unnatural Light
Notable releases
- Foul Play - Finest Illusion (Section 5, 1993)
- Harmony & Sweet - Music (Lucky Spin 07, 1993)
- Joint Project - Total Feeling (Soapbar Records 001, 1992)
- The Scientist - The Exorcist (Kickin Records, KICK 001, 1990)
- Altern-8Altern-8Altern-8 is a British rave duo, featuring Mark Archer and Chris Peat. Best known in the early 1990s, their trademark was loud electronic tracks with a heavy bass line. On stage, Altern-8's members wore facemasks and chemical warfare suits...
- Frequency (Network Records, NWKTR 34, 1991) - SL2SL2SL2 was the name of a hardcore/rave music act in the early 1990s from London, England. They also recorded, remixed or produced under the names Slipmatt & Lime and T.H.C.-Background:...
- DJ's Take Control (Awesome Records, SL002, 1991) - Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era - Far Out (Suburban BaseSuburban BaseSuburban Base Records was one of the biggest British jungle/drum and bass record labels based in Romford, Havering, UK. It was established by Dan Donnelly and operated in the UK from 1989 to 1997 and in the United States from 1994 to 1997.- History :...
, SUBBASE 008, 1991) - Wax Doctor - A New Direction (Jack SmoothJack SmoothJack Smooth, real name Ron Wells, born in London 1970.Ron is often credited as the pioneer of Jungle techno. During his career Ron has produced over 200 dance music records, spanning many genres....
, Basement Records, BRSS 0011, 1992) - Lords of AcidLords of AcidLords of Acid is a Belgian-American post-industrial/techno band, led by musician Praga Khan. They debuted with the controversial new beat single "I Sit on Acid" in 1988...
- Lust (Antler Subway Records, 1991) - DJ Seduction - Hardcore Heaven (FFrreedom, TABX 103, 1992)
- DJ Seduction - Come On (FFrreedom, TABX 101, 1992)
- Shades of Rhythm - Shades (ZTT RecordsZTT RecordsZTT Records is a record label founded in 1983 by NME journalist Paul Morley, record producer Trevor Horn, and businesswoman Jill Sinclair. The label's name was also printed as "Zang Tumb Tuum" and "Zang Tuum Tumb" on various releases....
, 1992) - Acen - Trip to the Moon (Production House RecordsProduction House RecordsProduction House Records was formed in 1987 by Phil Fearon. Laurie Jago and Raj Malkani. Fearon enjoyed a string of hits in the 1980s as producer and frontman of British soul/dance/pop collective; Galaxy....
, PNT 42, 1992) - The ProdigyThe ProdigyThe Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
- Experience (XL Recordings, XLCD 110, 1992) - NookieNookieNookie may refer to:*Nookie, a drum and bass musician* a slang term for sexual intercourse derived from the Cockney Rhyming Slang expression 'nook and cranny', meaning 'fanny', or British army slang from Arabic niki, "I fuck" - a slang term referring specifically to the vagina...
- Return of Nookie (Reinforced, RIVET 1239, 1993) - DJ Krome & Mr. Time - The Slammer (Suburban BaseSuburban BaseSuburban Base Records was one of the biggest British jungle/drum and bass record labels based in Romford, Havering, UK. It was established by Dan Donnelly and operated in the UK from 1989 to 1997 and in the United States from 1994 to 1997.- History :...
, SUBBASE 26, 1993) - DJ Red Alert & Mike Slammer - Slammin' Vinyl (GUMH 011, 1995)
- Nebula II - Seance / Atheama (Reinforced Records, 1991)
- Shut Up And DanceShut Up And DanceShut Up and Dance are an English music duo that fused hip hop, house and hardcore, and are best known for their single "Raving I'm Raving", which reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1992.-Career:...
- The Green Man (SUAD Records, 1991) - Manix - Oblivion (Head in the Clouds) (Reinforced Records, 1991)
- Shut Up And DanceShut Up And DanceShut Up and Dance are an English music duo that fused hip hop, house and hardcore, and are best known for their single "Raving I'm Raving", which reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1992.-Career:...
- Death Is Not the End (SUAD Records, 1992)