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Spanning the period between the demise of the starker sound of new beat and the infiltration of the now ubiquitous ‘hoover’ era of 1991 (Check the section!), this year spawned some truly great techno. By the end of this 15 track section you’ll start to hear the sound of the hoover creeping through, but before that, some really tough and inventive techno. Enjoy!
1.Beltram - Energy Flash
Probably one of the biggets techno tracks of all time and undeniably one of the most impactful. ENERGY FLASH. This absolutely DESTROYED dancefloors during this pivotal year, setting alight dancefloors from NYC to Ghent to London and back again. Causing total devastation many, many times in the space of one event, this was a staple weapon for a many of the best UK hardcore DJ’s during the ‘melting pot’. A SUPREME PRODUCTION IN EVERY MEASURE.
2.The B-Sides Volume 1 - Compression
After the almost untouchable sound of Energy Flash, There is only one serious place to start the Belgian techno for section for 1990 as far as we are concerned, and that is with the mighty powerhouse that was Frank De Wulf. This was a key year for the highly talented Belgian producer and the B-Sides project he created birthed so many excellent tracks, but Compression was the one that stuck out for most, and it’s clear to see why. A truly epic track. Enjoy!
3.The B-Sides Volume Two - Magic Orchestra
The second instalment of this monumental project, and a riff that perked up dancefloor within the first few beat of the bar. This thing still sounds amazing now. BANGIN!
4.The B-Sides - Volume 3 - The Tape
Come on then! What a whopper. That riff though. This is the start of that mind melting period in Belgian techno history where the synth riff was King (or Queen!). SO GOOD!
5.Modular Expansion Unit 1 - Cubes
Modular Expansion Unit 1 – Cubes. Finishing off a quadruple outing for Frank De Wulf, here we see him under his Modular Expansions guise and boy does this kick ass. An anthem here in the UK during this amazing year. YESSSS!
6.Techno Bert - Neue Dimensionen
Holy Moly. 9+ minutes of divine, heads down, stomping, buzzing techno. This was an absolute anthem on harder floors and has stood up incredibly well to the test of time. Still and anthem to us. WOOSH!
7.Brazil - Spectrum.
Later excellently reworked on The Moog’s hardcore anthem Rush Hour – check our From The Vault feature in the Index), this stunning track on the pioneering Belgian label, R&S rocked dancefloors to their absolute limit. BRAZIL!
8.Neon - Don't Mess With This Beat
Instantly recognisable as the massive riff from the 2 Bad Mice smash, Bombscare (see our 1991 – Jungle Roots/Jungle Tekno section) this huge tune from the Target Records camp was a smash in it’s own right. Bap Bap Bap!
9.Bagh - Heavy
Don’t let the lush intro fool you. This is a full on Belgian onslaught and must have given the Global record buying public a good insight into what lay ahead in 1991. BANGER!
10.Industrial - Severe Trauma
Matt Gray pops up in our 1990 – Rise Of The Breakbeat section under the Nitrous moniker, but here he’s in full on UK Rave/Belgian mode and this thing kicks ass. A warehouse rocker!
11.Quadrophonia - Quadrophonia
The Belgians had been steadily pumping out their unique brand of stab driven techno since 1989 when the new beat genre morphed into Belgian techno. Much of it was 4/4 (see our 1991 Belgian Techno section for more information) but there were also a few other early breakbeat driven monsters, and this was one of them.
The nation’s producers never really took the breakbeat by the horns like the UK did, but they did give it a pretty good try! Gaining huge ground in the national pop charts as well as being a massive underground rave hit, this thing still throws you around the room even now. In your face.
12.Holy Noise - Father Forgive The
Certain sources claim that this was the first ever rave track to incorporate the use of the Amen break, but our research tells us different. That said, it was a very early example. We think the cross pollination of ideas was so focused at the time, it might even have happened almost simultaneously. Either way, this is a banger!
13.The Rhythm Section - Laser Nation
Released in May 1990, this was an absolute stomper in its day and was a much sought after Belgian classic, with those descending tom toms and computerised vocal, it swept up ravers in it’s wake. Killer.
