The power and influence of Belgian Techno on the rave scene and later the drum and bass and jungle movements cannot and must never be underestimated.
It spawned the now synonymous sound of the HOOVER, not just one sound in particular as some might suggest, but a collection of sounds, that ranged from scratchy to fuzzy to mechanical to buzzy and back again.
1991 was the year pinnacle for this incredible and exciting genre, and without the constant influx of imports coming across the channel, the entire drum and bass movement would be a very different place indeed, especially when you consider how much people like Goldie and the tech step movement used samples from this genre again and again to create their sonic landscapes.
This is our all time favourite genre of electronic music here at INSIDE DNB, so this list of twenty bona fide bangers was both easy and a joy to put together. When you consider the age of this music versus the impact it still has on the listener, and its far reaching influence on later styles, you can see why producers return over and over again to this treasure trove of sounds.
1.Second Phase - Mentasm
We included this in the 1991 breakbeat section to give you an introduction to jungle tekno, but it also deserves to be first on the list of Belgian techno classics too. Penned by Brooklyn born Joey Beltram who was living in Belgium at the time and Mundo Muzique, this absolute monster encapsulates everything that was beautiful about '91 Belgian techno. Driving drums, scattered, metallic percussion and that all important HOOVER synth sound, this is about as good as it got for this highly essential era. EVIL.
2. DJ PC - Insomniak
One of the biggest tracks of the year without question, and also intersting because if you spun the vocal on the intro backwards on the turntable it said the same thing in both directions, this was and still is a HUGE track. Boof!
4. Neon - Waves (Tragedy Mix)
Hoover upon Hoover upon Hoover......................Urghhhhh MADDNES!!!!!!
BBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPP
4.Set Up System - Fairy Dust (Centripedal Mix)
Oh my word. We remember this getting spun all through '91 and you have never seen a club rock like it rocks to this. The pounding kick drum carries the march forward while that absolutely insane sample just keeps scratching its way into your brain. This is Van Wauwe and Ramson at their very, very best. YIKES!
5.Convert - Nightbird
On the other end of the scale you had simply astounding piece or art like this by the very same producers of Fairy Dust. Those rushing synth lines drove ravers absolutely wild and again, you've never seen a floor erupt quite like it. SO GOOD!
6. MNO - The God of Abraham
Scratchy Scratchy!!!!!!! This in your face belter is everything we love about the genre. ONE MORE TIME!
7.Frequency - Kiss The Sky
Now this is class. Especially when the drums dissapear and you get hooked into that synth line that tricks you into thinking it's where it isn't! Confused? You will be!
8.Program 2 - The Omen
Beltram dominated 1991. His productions were flawless and the ideas just kept coming and coming. The Omen picked up where Mentasm left off and caused just as much damage. BIG
9.CJ Bolland - Horsepower
10. CJ Bolland - Mindwar
Bolland in his finest hour. So says us anyway. Driving, pounding techno with a synth hook that pulls your brain out of one ear and then forces it back through the other, this slab of Belgian techno (and techno generally) on behemoth R&S records (still absolutely slaying to this day BTW, and hosts to some epic drum and bass too) is really of the highest possible quality. CJ, can I have my braincells back please?
11. T99 - Anasthasia
11. This was released early in the year, and it shows when you listen to it. It was crazy how quickly the Belgian sound deveolped over a 12 month period, possibly less, but this tune was at the forefront of bringing Belgian techno to the forefront of the UK masses and still totally bounces.
12. Trigger - Stratosphere
Another early one, but with added breakbeats, we're pretty sure this among a handful of others was a catalyst for the looming jungle tekno movement. A whopper!
13. N-Joi - Adrenalin
Possibly not everybody's choice for this list, but as we don't have a straight up techno list and this is clearly full of Belgian overtones, we think it sits well here. And an amazing tune too. This might be seen as a UK counterpoint to Belgian techno, depending on what side of the fence you sit on.
14. Bizarre Inc - Playing With Knives (Quadrant Mix)
Another one people may dispute on account of it being British, but this was another pivotal track in the whole light/dark - soft/heavy song structure that the Belgians capitalised on fully during the early part of the year.
The simple and ancient structure of verse/chorus interpreted digitally kind of sounds like this, but we think most people will agree with us when we say it was probably never done before, or never will be done again with such incredible impact. There is a reason this record is revered so highly. It turned the scene on its head and opened doors most of us never even knew were there.
See below for more info.
15. Cubic 22 - Night In Motion
There is a great video on YT that features Danny Van Wauwe, one half of Cubic 22, and he states in it that the main inspiration/influence for this track cam e from Bizarre Inc (above). They saw a power and longevity in the format of dark/heavy sections followed by light/uplifting sections and capitalised on that structure for this tune.
If you then look at the format that developed across the breakbeat hardcore, piano hardcore and jungle tekno split offs, it was a format that rapidly became a staple feature in almost all tracks that followed.
And that is why tracks 14 and 15 in this list are so important. Listen to any of the tracks in any of our lists for 1990 and further back, and you'll struggle to find that format so obviously presented as you will here.
16. Outlander - Vamp
Sampled to high heaven and played in all corners of the underground globe, this excellent record still shakes foundations when played out live. Simply superb, and a slightly different take on the classic hoover sound.
17. Air Of Gloom - Meditiation
The Beat Box label was responsible for some incredible music and had a sound all of their own. This beauty showcases perfectly their floaty take on hoover. Wonderful.
18. Human Resource - Dominator
Arguable the first record that bought the sound of the hoover to the wider British consciousness, this track slayed, and still slays. A bona fide classic.
19. 80 Aum - Mindcontroller
Another brain bashing hoover classic and with that skippy percussion, it kept floors packed to capacity.
20. Digital Orgasm - Moog Eruption
Trance Mission was a label on another level. They knew quality when they heard it and it was reflected in everything they put out. Belgian wasn't always about psychotic synths. It sometimes expressed moments of musical beauty and this is one of those.
21. Angel Ice - Je N'Aime Que Toi
With record covers that you could spend hours looking at and STILL see something new (look one up!) and a roster that included some of the best producers Belgium had to offer, Beat Box always came correct. This is a personal INSIDE DNB favourite and next level hoover.
22. Angel Ice - N'Aie Pas Peur
Another favourite. Angel Ice were a next level techno production outfit. We'd have never have left this out.
23. Praga Khan - Rave Alarm
Praga Khan was there from the very beginning of this whole movement and to not include him in this list would have been criminal. He was responsible for much of the new beat music flooding into the UK during 87/88/89 and much of the techno in 90/91 and 92. His input into the genre is immeasurable. This track was a banger in '91 and those hoovers still scratch your eyes out even now. Coming with that Beat Box musicality, this was a rushing tune of epic proportions.
24. Science Lab - Flesh and Blood
A sign perhaps of where the Belgians were heading once the hoover popularity bubble had burst, or at least a look forward to when it did (and it did), this wonderful trancer from the Mental Radio stable always struck a chord with us. Fabulous.
25. Phantasia - Violet Skies
And to finish this list of epic, in your face, off yer nut Belgian craziness is this paired down, forward thinking, vocal led beauty courtesy of Nikki Van Lierop, Praga Khan and Oliver Adams, a team responsible for much of the output across the entire Belgian techno movement.
If this music moves you, we would seriously suggest deep diving into the entire genre to uncover its many secrets. It's impact on the UK underground scene was shortlived, but its influence far reaching and even today you will hear DNB records being released with hallmarks of the genre intact.
