Written by Skin Teeth
1997 was a funny year. I think the rot had finally set in. It was becoming obvious that the formula for Happy Hardcore was to exclusively revolve around big kick drums, off beat stabs, a huge breakdown featuring a (usually strained) vocal, singing a euro dance style refrain or a rehashed 80s ballad and an arrangement that almost never varied from track to track.
But, as with any genre, however tired, there was still a fair amount of gold to be mined, and here are five tracks I want to highlight, that in my humble opinion, still stand up to even the most dismissive or cynical scrutiny.
Other opinions are available.
1. Brisk and Trixxy – Eye Opener – Slammin’ Vinyl
Well, we could stop the list here, as honestly, it doesn’t get much better than this. Probably in my top 10 rave records of all time, this is just perfection from start to finish. The expansive pads, the ethereal vocal, the mammoth synthline and a ruff breakdown that samples a very angry Method Man. I first heard this at the Sanctuary (probably at a Helter Skelter) and remember looking across the crowd, picking out a mate in the throng who returned my look with a huge, face splitting grin. I’ll never forget that moment, and it’s hard to overstate how good this record is!
Sublime, stomping and a real standout.
2. Ravers choice 6 (Dj Faber – Wind Up Yout Waist) Ravers Choice
If ever a tune could encapsulate the carefree, unpretentious fun of bouncing around a warehouse at 4 in the morning, it’s this track. A dumb slab of silly joy, that absolutely tanks along with tight production, and an infectious, and slightly familiar sounding hook.
It really is a feel good tune. A tasty block of delicious cheese, that makes you feel like everything is alright with the world… At least for a moment.
In contast the flipside is everything wrong with the genre. An absolute abomination that I refuse to think about further for the sake of sanity. Very much a record of two halves!
3. The Antisocial – Get Into Love – Essential Platinum
In my mind, while Essential Platinum definitely released some amazing tunes throughout the 90s (especially in its early inception), it was also responsible for some of the worst music the scene had to offer (Hopscotch, I’m looking at you!). Get Into Love is an excellent highlight though.
An untypically languid vocal anchors the track, which, on its own is nothing to write home about, however this gives way to the mother of all riffs, a hook for the ages, a stab pattern so incredible, it feels like you’re strapped into an endorphin fueled merry-go-round that threatens to drag your happless body around the dance floor in a maniacal whirlwind! While it hits all the usual arrangement tropes, It’s vibe is not really typical of the time and it’s all the better for it! Simply put, it’s massive!
However, the flip is predictably atrocious…
4. Force and Styles, featuring Junior – Pacific Sun – UK Dance White Label
You can’t move for anthems (seemingly churned out with ease), by Force and Styles in the mid 90s. They really had a formula that couldn’t fail. Whatever was in the sea water in Clacton, it made everything they touched an instant classic (I grew up just down the coast and sadly we just had poo and sanitary towels). Featuring their talented MC and vocalist; Junior, Pacific Sun is right up there for me, as some of their finest work (Pretty Green Eyes from the previous year probably being my favorite). It’s the vocal adlibbing at the end of the track that always gets me going. Soaring pads, their trademark kick, a weighty off beat Stab and Junior’s vocals are all on point. I even give the guitar solo a pass! It’s one of the few tunes I still blast when I need to cheer myself up! Masterful.
5. Robbie Long and Devastate – 24 Track – Next Generation Records
Ok, now we’re talking. I wish two things in life. One; Robbie Long and Devastate made more music around this time, and two; their style had more intrest from other producers and DJs… This is proper Hardcore. Banging, hard as nails (without losing it’s sonic richness), frenetic and relentless. Featuring a short but sweet breakdown that uses samples rather than someone’s next door neighbour on vocals (a very rare occurance in 1997), awesome synth lines and topped off with excellently done hiphop edits and chops. Euphoric without tipping into played out territory, this one gallops along like a rhino in heat. Too bad it didn’t inspire the genres direction as this is exactly where I would have loved Happy Hardcore to go. The flip is also a cracker.
Honorable mentions:
- Brisk and Trixxy – Show Me The Way – Slammin’ Vinyl
- Dj Seduction – Here It Comes (Hardcore Heaven Mix) – Impact Records
- Rapido- Insomniak – Next Generation Records
- Dj Fade – Music Man (Robbie Long & Devastate Remix) – Fused Up Recordings
- Ramos, Supreme & The Sunset Regime – Gotta Believe – Force & Styles Remix – Hectic Rewinds
Check out Skin Teeth:
https://skinteeth1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/torrexvi/
https://torrexvi.bandcamp.com/
Futurepast Zine 
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