Hidden Agenda – Is It Love? / On The Roof / The Flute Tune

I'm going to be as ignorant as ever by saying, I think this is the best Metalheadz release from the '94-'96 era.
When all 3 tracks on one record sound revolutionary, during an already revolutionary time for the genre, you know you've gone above & beyond. You can wave to me the numbers, you can flail in my face Doc's 'Far Away', Peshay's 'Psychosis', Rider's Ghost, and even Pulp fuckin Fiction. I do not care. All 3 were fresh and very unique, utilizing samples in a clever way, and performing techniques and beat programming nearly unheard in it's contemporaries. They gave you leeway with funk and soul soundscapes, but kept you in orbit with their punchy kicks, perfect use of syncopation/chopping, and solid bass tones that were so thick, I swear you could bite them coming out the subwoofer.

Hidden Agenda will always be the diamonds of the golden era.

If there's one record that you'd save from your burning house it might just be this one. An incredible record. Everyone knows 'The Flute Tune' but the thing about this and 'On the Roof', despite its driving beat, is the complete ambivalence towards the dance floor. I always think of Platinum Breakz as the greatest testament to the idea of Jungle as an art form and no-one really exemplifies this better than Hidden Agenda on this release. Even Rupert Parkes, my ultimate beau, always played the game to some degree. 'Is it Love' is a little more primed for the gyration of limbs but, my God, what charm! 'Is it Love' sounds like the product of a visit to the charity shop followed by a session on acid with the results being a serendipitous half memory. It's utterly brilliant and equally bonkers. I always maintain that as far as the three tracker goes, 'The Angels Fell' EP is the greatest record ever released but in terms of depth of music and originality, it's debatable whether this record has ever been bettered in the whole history of the scene.

Seriously good 12 this - funk, soul and a little grot with fantastic breaks edits and bottomless bass.

The Flute Tune is a masterclass in sparse, elegant and beautiful music. Its so ahead of its time with its wonderful use of space, subtlety and imagination, fusing funk, jazz and booming bass and light and delicate breaks. Wow I love all of these tracks from this period. Magical stuff

Anyone know the warped piano sample on Is It Love? at about 1:47? That tune is killa..