This is one that is worth the money IMO. A slightly unusual and unique sound due to it being produced outside the UK - very ruff, raw and powerful for a 1992 tune - very much on the dark and moody tip. Instantly recognisable from the Ice T vocal sample "you are now about to witness the strenght of street knowledge". The EP features 3 mixes of the same tune - this is my favourite and the one most people talk about.

Foul Play Finest Illusion (Illegal Mix)
Big 1993 tunes from the absolutely wicked Foul Play. All the trouble on this one is due to the illegal sample from the SOS Band. Released original on a pink label promo then on Moving Shadow offshoot label Section 5 before being quickly withdrawn and finally released on a black label "bootleg" copy which was in fact pressed from the original metalwork (so its not really a bootleg but was released to look like one).

Yes, yes - SS and EQ give this pretty average D'Cruze release the Formation treatment and show the Sub Base girlies how to make real hard tunes. Some choice timestreched beats in this one as well as some really dark and mean stabs which breakdown into a really menacing strings with more timestretched "want you now" vocals. It all evetually breaksdown into a slightly off key piano and then back to the mash up beats. Kind of a must have for a self-respecting record collection IMO.

Such a wicked 12" off Bizzy B's Brain label I had difficulty choosing which tune to use for the review as all 3 are wicked. I bought loads of tunes on vinyl off the Brain label in late 91 early 92 and would have ranked them right up there with the likes of Formation. Not sure why the label stayed so firmly underground, perhaps because the tunes were more to the harder side of hardcore. Check out the base on this one and imagine it on a massive system.

The piano riff at the start of this tune has a very Bizzare Inc feel to it and like playing with Knives lauches into a pretty hard hoover stab after the smooth piano's. The tune therefore has really mad sections with smooth piano sections in between for you to put your hands in the air and take a breather. Essentially the format for a lot of 91 and 92 hardcore - this tune has it down to a tee

Spare Beat were one of the best underground labels going. Loads of top tunes on this label including the Blatent tunes and the Connection EP amoung others. Like it says on the tin this tune is easily spotted from the "you and me" vocal sample. Quite difficult to describe this tune which is probably what makes it a good um' - originality. A really catchy synth runs through most of the tune with a few piano's thrown in near the middle

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.

Not a tune which really grabs me a lot - bit handbag for me really but a massively loved anthem out there in club land. Really catching original vocals and lots of piano make it a happy and uplifting tune. The mix featured in the clip is the "beefed up mix" which is by far the best mix. I've seen this tune go for over £50 on E-Bay but as far as I know it reasonably easy to pick up ... innit?

Night Stalker (DJ SS Remix)This has got to be one of the most darkest moody tunes i have ever heard with its whaling and grinding at the start and you have to mix it just after the guy say watcha boo so if i was you i wouldnt i would just sit back roll a joint and enjoy.