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The remix of Wannabe is heavily based on the Motiv8 remix from the original release - I guess because the original version didn't lend itself to a direct sample, as is more common with happy hardcore rip offs. Which is why it sounds a bit different -... See full review

I first heard "Lose Control" courtesy of Tom Wilson, on the Rez VI compilation. Although it was released in 1996, it's more in the classic 94/95 happy style (but at a 96 tempo) - a lighter kick & plenty of breakbeats, with a killer stab section, and a... See full review

Out of Davie Forbes' happy hardcore releases, "Reach Out" is definitely his best. The main piano is suitably anthemic, and the additional synths & vocal give it a slightly ethereal vibe, making it stand out from other happy tunes of the time."Don... See full review

While it started as a pioneer of the emerging Dutch hardcore sound. by release number fifty Rave had been somewhat eclipsed by its newer sister labels, Dwarf and Babyboom. And certainly the tunes on here sound like they could have been on either.

All... See full review

One of my favourite bits about the Future Primitive remix of "Most Uplifting" is - the original "most uplifting" sample is spoken by Chris Barrie on Red Dwarf. The remix adds a sample of a female voice saying "most uplifting" - which I believe is from... See full review

Underrated early release by DJ Delirium, possibly his first hardcore EP on a European label (excluding a breakbeat release on Reinforced of course).

On the A side, "Outta Ya Fucking Mind" is classic gabber, full of angry hoovers & sweary samples. But... See full review

One of the curious things about Tiesto's early productions is the variation. Most of them are fairly generic hardcore of the time - some good, some forgettable. But there are a few interesting surprises in his catalogue too, with a more experimental... See full review

Although it may not have been quite as popular as the previous two Bountyhunter EPs, this one is definitely my favourite. By this point, he had developed a distinctive style, somewhere between early Euro hardcore and the Chicago techno of Robert... See full review

I'm not sure whether the "Stepp Off Mix" was big when this came out - or if it was the re-release on United Ravers the following year (as Code-27) that did it. Either way it's a hard trance classic, with an epic main breakdown and the distinctive... See full review

This EP was produced by Dietmer Tan, better known as Sonicdriver of "Cold As Ice" fame.I think the label Blaze was intended as a happy rave sister label for Dwarf & Babyboom, although it only lasted for one further release after this.

Now the reason... See full review

Out of all the Dutch labels that flirted with happy hardcore, I think BZRK might be the one that did it best. Some of which is thanks to the producer of this EP, Jorn Hanneman (aka Dr Phil Omanski & one half of Public Domain).

"The Flow" on the A... See full review

There were a few people trying to bring back the breakbeats into happy hardcore towards the end of the 90s - most notably Demo (and to a lesser degree Slipmatt). Also a few of the later Just Another Label releases had at least 1 breakbeat track on... See full review

As much as I enjoy all the modern jungle of the past few years, it's rare for a newer tune to really stick with me. That's no criticism of any artists either - really the fault is mine for having filled my brain past capacity with more rave music than... See full review

The "Indigo" mix of Elephant is the notorious track on here, a happy hardcore version of a certain old children's song...I have a higher tolerance than most for this sort of silliness, but even then I can't get into it. The only real positive is the... See full review

To say I am a fan of Nebula II's early 90s releases would be a significant understatement - those EPs on J4M & Reinforced are about as perfect as breakbeat hardcore gets. Most of their subsequent techno / trance is more on the goa / psychedelic tip,... See full review

I picked this mystery white label on here a few weeks ago out of curiosity. Breeze has long been one of my favourite labels - the five full releases are about as good as mid 90s hardcore gets, for my tastes. So even though the style of this release... See full review

Beatmen was a one off collaboration between Stefan Heinemann & Andre Tanneberger of Sequential One fame, and it covers similar ground: commercial rave on the A side, more underground on the B side.

However, whilst Sequential One's commercial tunes... See full review

Fantastic EP by Christ Of Noise (RIP) with production by Liza N Eliaz. The highlight for me being "Protzaak", which I remember Producer playing. It feels like a nice blend of the Dutch and French hardcore styles (quite apt for a Belgian label I guess)... See full review

In some ways this could be considered an unofficial Citadel of Kaos EP. It was made one of the same people (A-Sides), released on a Stage One label, and some similarities in style - namely breakbeat hardcore with techno / trance influences. But... See full review

The two tracks on the A side here are what you'd expect. Not as strong as their previous collaboration, but still decent enough. However, on the B side there's something different, in the shape of the acid mix.

What makes it stand out is - rather... See full review