The drums

photo by Matthieu :: giik.net/blog used under cc licence

I'm always going on about how music was better back in the early nineties. There's little contemporary club stuff that I like to listen to. Have I become the clubbing equivalent of my parents, doomed to listen to - and love - the same Chris de Burgh album for all eternity? I've thought about it a lot, and the answer is... NO! Music, or at least club music, was better back then. Less cynically commercial, less tailored to trigger the various effects of certain drugs. Less ridiculously hard and fast. It wasn't a completely innocent time, but it was more creative, positive, melodic...

Melody is all well and fine, but what about a good pounding beat? Going through my CD-singles, it struck me that a lot of people managed to make good club tracks without much melody at all. Practically all they needed was... the drums.

Here's my quick selection of highlights:

1. The Mod Wheel "Jungle Drums (Tom Middleton 3D dub)"
I remember when this came out. It was everywhere thanks to its clever filters, great breakdown and monkeys!
2. Blue Boy "Remember Me (Sub dub)"
This wasn't the mix heard in all the clubs, in fact there's not much of the original in there at all... which is a good thing. I got really sick of that song, but I love this mix by Matthias 'Matty' Heilbronn.
3. Brothers' Vibe "Rain Forest"
This was an underground tribal track by Tony Rodriguez that I heard played by DJ Freddy at the legendary Scream nights in Paris. Very simple, very effective.
4. Dave Lee "Mucho Macho (Joey Negro dubbed drums Fist extension)"
Just to prove me wrong, this is a new one! Dave Lee manages to keep the energy going with only the simplest of elements, and I've extended his version slightly to extend the pleasure.

Click on each track to download it separately, or go straight to the Mediafire folder containing them all by clicking here.