Ruff Rider – Shaggy Ridims E.P.

It's hard to go wrong with vintage Grant Nelson and Mark Ryder productions, especially when they both team up on the same record. I suspect this release suffered at the time from being released a few months too late and missing the peak era of 1992 euphoria, which is unfortunate as every track is a complete belter.

You & Me is absolutely laden with samples and even when it isn't pinching sounds directly its replaying the Acen Life & Crimes riff with carefree abandon! Lots of great switch-ups between ideas, an energetic flow and some proper hands in the air business in the breakdowns. Like those quick rewinds in the breakbeat.

Move Your Bod doesn't sample the kids show Bod directly, but does replay the whistling riff with a rave stab. It would be unnoticeable unless you knew the show mind you. Really like that thick synth at the start of this track.

Dance Mutha kicks off with the recognisable 'Looney Tunes - Just As Long As I Got You' loop before delving into an enjoyable stab section with a Janet Jackson vocal.

Finally, Drugged Culture ventures off on a jungle techno journey, with the Tango Timebomb bouncy stab and an unusual psychedelic breakdown with ominous hospital life support bleeping, perhaps alluding to the track title. Wicked stuff.

A1 has the same riff as Acen - The Life And Crimes Of A Ruffneck

'Drugged Culture' has all the elements of a true underground hardcore/jungletekno tune - I don't think it was very known but fits in very nicely with those dirty basslines & scatty breaks as pushed by Dj Ratty late 92/93 era - defiantly one for the purists. The other tracks on the ep are nicely done as well but will appear more to the hands in the air crew, quality release.

Kickin' was one of the fore running labels at the beginning of the oldskool hardcore scene. Tunes like the Excorcist, The Bee and Sanity Clause topped the early days of the techno breakbeat fusion. The label didn't seem to evolve through 91, it didn't produce much in the mold we now call old skool hardcore and subsiquently is much over looked when people look back. This is a top tune - right in the mid 92 manic style.