Old Skool Rave Mix Tapes

I'm currently listening to side B of Phantom 45's Think Twice. Sraight-rollin 94-95 jump-up.

It's amazing how good a mix can be.

http://dublab.com/labnotes/daedelus-future-roots-mix-cd/

not old school, but it's fucking daedelus + 92. Damned good, I've heard almost every song on the mix but it's fucking great.

some of these covers are pretty future

I would absolutely love to have a physical collection of vintage rave/jungle mix tapes but they actually seem to have retained or actually gone up in value and I can't even afford to buy new music not to mention a bunch of used music that doesn't really support any active artists.

Seriously though check out the new Daedelus dub lab mix CD, pretty killer.

jefferoo, thank you. I have been looking for this kind of thing, without knowing I was looking for it, from the time I first heard this kind of music.

Are these tapes put out by DJs who are actually producing the songs, or are they just compiling them? In either case, does anyone know what kind of equipment they were using during these time periods?

Lastly...jefferoo, or anyone, from any of the sites...does anyone know of some of the darker albums/mixes...it can be house, jungle, trance, whatever, regardless of the genre...

^ If someone could answer those questions it would be great, as I'm truly interested...

Also, in terms of dark music, this is the kind of thing that comes to mind, even though it's modern (or recently created):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeEl0M7MQYk

and this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoeD8DWirQ8

But I am open to anyone's opinion or perception of darkness, and if you can lead me, please lead on...

  On 4/29/2010 at 3:45 AM, carthief said:

jefferoo, thank you. I have been looking for this kind of thing, without knowing I was looking for it, from the time I first heard this kind of music.

 

Are these tapes put out by DJs who are actually producing the songs, or are they just compiling them? In either case, does anyone know what kind of equipment they were using during these time periods?

 

Lastly...jefferoo, or anyone, from any of the sites...does anyone know of some of the darker albums/mixes...it can be house, jungle, trance, whatever, regardless of the genre...

Just to let you in on a little secret...

These mix-tapes were all made by rave DJs.

The tapes were almost entirely made using 2 turntables, a mixer and a shitload of dope 12"s.

That's about it really.

I used to go to a lot of raves and see these DJs spin their shit. Sometimes they would put their own records in the mix. Sometimes, they would get special test-presses or dub-plates from well known producers and either drop them at the raves or throw those on the tapes.

As far as what the producers used to produce the tracks: software, midi, samplers and synths. They had all of that in the 90s, it was just much more basic than it is now.

The tapes were a big part of the rave culture. I collected a lot of these at the raves. Often times, you would go to a rave and there would be a table set up with a fuck-load of mix-tapes sorted by genre and you would just buy the ones from the DJs you knew and liked.

Gone are the days...

If you really want to find out more, start by researching some of the record labels. Most of this mid-90s shit was produced in the UK.

The best labels, in my opinion, are:

Suburban Base

Dope Dragon

Joker

Ganja

Congo Natty

Moving Shadow

V Classics

Hard Leaders

Promo

Fresh Kutt

Metalheadz

Some labels like Hard Leaders, Metalheadz and Moving Shadow had darker stuff but it all varied from label to label, artist to artist and track to track. There are literally countless labels from this time period that put out quality shit. You are in for an exciting hunt.

The vast majority of producers were also DJs.

If you like dark, Technical Itch is where the buck stops. He is the best.

If anyone knows if he ever cut a mix-tape, I would gladly blow you for a lead... but I doubt he ever did.

  On 5/1/2010 at 1:04 AM, carthief said:

^ If someone could answer those questions it would be great, as I'm truly interested...

 

Also, in terms of dark music, this is the kind of thing that comes to mind, even though it's modern (or recently created):

 

 

and this...

 

 

But I am open to anyone's opinion or perception of darkness, and if you can lead me, please lead on...

Like I said, if you like dark, Technical Itch is where the buck stops.

Old-School Technical Itch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNWPw9Jk9V4&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bCnR5Z2Ps0

New-School Technical Itch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTwZ6RzNuDE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9_fpljcNv4&feature=related

The "newer" shit is infinitely darker.

There is so much more. He is the king of drums...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTBLxnNSNu0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAodsSgVAB0&feature=related

Thanks a lot man. You're hitting the vein for what I'm seeking right now, and have been seeking, for some time.

I've heard of Metalheadz because Burial did a remix of a, I think, drum & bass group called Commix, and it was getting put out on that label.

I will definitely look into the labels; are you able to rattle off a quick list of good producers at the time, just to give me another place to start?

Thanks for responding, I appreciate it.

P.S. For your own interests' sake, have you ever listened to The Field?

  On 5/1/2010 at 6:14 AM, jefferoo said:

 

The vast majority of producers were also DJs.

If you like dark, Technical Itch is where the buck stops. He is the best.

If anyone knows if he ever cut a mix-tape, I would gladly blow you for a lead... but I doubt he ever did.

not a mix-tape, but more like an official 2cd-mix

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Killabites-2/release/10184

and it's as wholesome as it's awesome!!!

some brilliant links here!

listening to this one and its amazing

http://goldenerajungle.com/php-files/viewpage.php?page_id=55

I've got a bunch of drum and bass tape packs from 96-99, there is a lot of shit to sift through though and MCs all over the place

  On 5/1/2010 at 2:52 PM, carthief said:

Thanks a lot man. You're hitting the vein for what I'm seeking right now, and have been seeking, for some time.

 

I've heard of Metalheadz because Burial did a remix of a, I think, drum & bass group called Commix, and it was getting put out on that label.

 

I will definitely look into the labels; are you able to rattle off a quick list of good producers at the time, just to give me another place to start?

 

Thanks for responding, I appreciate it.

 

P.S. For your own interests' sake, have you ever listened to The Field?

Glad I could help!

I haven't heard The Field. I will try to check them out.

There are so many great rave-era producers. I'll try to name a few of my faves:

Tech Itch (obviously)

DJ Hype

DJ Zinc / Dope Skillz

Marvelous Cain

Johnny Jungle

The Dream Team

Aphrodite

Gang Related & Mask

Krome & Time

DJ SS

DJ Ascend

SHY FX

Souljah

Elementz of Noize

Danny Breaks

Here is a classic hardstep/darkstep mix by DJ 3D (Chicago). He actually has a few of his own track on this one:

Check out Side B first...DJ 3D Jungle Book 1

You guys are great. I know I'm new here but I do believe this thread is worthy of a sticky.

jefferoo...here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I41qt-O8Rk

The Field is a new artist btw

  On 5/1/2010 at 7:59 PM, Deepex said:

The Field is a new artist btw

Yep, I know. I'm hopefully just about to get into the old artists, I was trying to contribute something to jefferoo in the same vein, that I was familiar with, that hopefully he'd like (albeit modern).

  On 5/1/2010 at 3:05 PM, goDel said:

  On 5/1/2010 at 6:14 AM, jefferoo said:

 

The vast majority of producers were also DJs.

If you like dark, Technical Itch is where the buck stops. He is the best.

If anyone knows if he ever cut a mix-tape, I would gladly blow you for a lead... but I doubt he ever did.

not a mix-tape, but more like an official 2cd-mix

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Killabites-2/release/10184

 

and it's as wholesome as it's awesome!!!

yes!

  On 5/1/2010 at 3:05 PM, goDel said:

  On 5/1/2010 at 6:14 AM, jefferoo said:

 

The vast majority of producers were also DJs.

If you like dark, Technical Itch is where the buck stops. He is the best.

If anyone knows if he ever cut a mix-tape, I would gladly blow you for a lead... but I doubt he ever did.

not a mix-tape, but more like an official 2cd-mix

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Killabites-2/release/10184

 

and it's as wholesome as it's awesome!!!

  Quote

Tracklist

1-01 Universal Project - Bleach

1-02 Dieselboy - Invid (Future Cut 'Second Coming' Remix)

Remix - Future Cut

1-03 Technical Itch - Relic

1-04 Kemal + Rob Data - Gene Sequence

1-05 Calyx & DJ Kontrol - Revolution

1-06 Decoder - Back @ Mine

1-07 Dieselboy - The Descent (Phunckateck VIP)

Remix - Phunckateck

1-08 Decoder & Substance - Icon

1-09 Hive - Surreal Killer

1-10 Technical Itch - Portscan

1-11 Calyx - Deviation

1-12 Stakka & Skynet - Altitude

Featuring - DJ Friction

1-13 Technical Itch - The Signal

1-14 Decoder - Crisis

1-15 Paranoid User - Pitch Black

1-16 Decoder & Substance - Dogfight

1-17 Decoder - Lo Voltage

1-18 Ice Minus - Jabba

1-19 Technical Itch - Dimensions

2-01 Dom* & Keaton - Archeon

2-02 Biostacis - Shatter

2-03 Drumsound & Simon "Bassline" Smith - I Need Your Love

2-04 Konflict - Messiah

2-05 Aquasky - Lords Of Motion (Technical Itch Remix)

Remix - Technical Itch

2-06 Decoder - Bounty Hunter

2-07 Hive - Futura

2-08 Technical Itch - Brace

2-09 Ice Minus & Technical Itch - Altered Beast

2-10 Decoder & Ice Minus - Drowning

2-11 Cujo (2) - Biters

2-12 Decoder - 2 Weeks

2-13 Paranoid User - Safeguard

2-14 Technical Itch - Heaven

2-15 Dom & Roland - Imagination

2-16 Technical Itch - Analysis

2-17 Technical Itch - Reborn (VIP Mix)

2-18 Hive - The Raw Uncut

yes!!!! I finally found it!!!!!! It was posted some time ago on the forums but here you go again!!!!

http://www.unyx.nl/oldschoolmix/

OH. MY. GOSH.

>>>>>>

i made a thread with a link to a blog transcribing old london pirate radio mixes to tape if you can be arsed finding it

it never ends

http://drumtrip.co.uk/

I found this link though the GEJ site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld5Fsl_abuU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n3I5RjpQoI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMgNLZ-_Zo&feature=related

this used to be a favorite of mine way back in the day... it had joy division, aphex, beaumont hannat, mu-ziq, kosmik kommando, nin, bauhaus.

the dj is DJ Thee-o. he's mostly known for more techno rave mixes. This is the only mix of his that i know of that isn't techno ravey.

http://soundcloud.com/thee-o/thee-o-komakino-1995-mixtape