Favourites
In no particular order, here's a list of songs that I think are flawless the whole way through!
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R Solution - Main Source
Kicking it off with a super overlooked Reinforced tune, taken off "Enforcers 4" (one of many in this amazing series). R Solution is a little-used alias of Marc Mac (a.k.a. Manix) and it seemed to be used for more techno-oriented stuff, and the influence is evident here: prominent usage of percussion hits and a thumping four-on-the-floor break keep things together. The pads and atmospheres are of particular note, and just seal the deal for me!
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DJ Dub Rush - Come Again
The entirety of "Zero Zero" could've been on this list (it's the only record in existence that is 100% perfect in my opinion, from start to finish), but this one is on here, because oh man... the sheer CHAOS of this song needs to be heard to be believed. Some rather unassuming bleeps start the tune off, and then a relatively normal break comes in, and you'd think it's a normal tune. But as soon as that Whistling Kettle Drum Break™ comes in, that's when all hell breaks loose.
An annoyingly familiar reggae sample plays a big part in this tune, with the PERFECT combination of manic bleeps, stupid rhythms and clashing wonders, and it's especially fun when that little vocal plays, just a normal little vocal sitting underneath all the madness like "yup, this is fine". Then it calms down with the best synth lead ever, and oh god... just listen to it man, I'm smiling just typing this out...
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USI - You Wah Hear Sound
This is an awesome tune, especially for its time, considering it was released in 1991! Bizzy B is no stranger to innovation, and in this tune he made alongside Blakeski (forming to make USI), we get some sick proto-hardcore business. Super tight breakbeats in a rhythm you can't help but move to, all with some fun stab sequences, a reminder of that 1991 rave spirit. There's some fun incidentals and even a pitched cowbell line in the background, but my favourite part is the super atmospheric breakdown ("this is only a dream") which leads seamlessly back into the break pattern from before.
The entire "Hard-Kore" E.P. is well ahead of its time, but this track has definitely held up the best, and to me of course, it is flawless the whole way through.
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Ellis Dee - Do You Want Me
This is one of those tunes that just epitomizes Breakbeat Hardcore. The essence is all right here: super catchy stabs, equally catchy vocal lines ("are we gonna get alive, posse, or what?!") and iconic breakbeats. It just puts a smile on my face every time, but this is Ellis Dee we're talking about... he was literally a part of Rhythm Section, who put out some of the most seminal tracks of 1991 (see "Coming on Strong" and "Check Out the Bass"), and his style carried over beautifully when he went solo. This track is just hardcore perfection, there are no other words.
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Bay B Kane - Theme Spirit
Of course, a Bay B Kane tune had to be on this list... but it's from one of his earliest releases! Him and Mister E (from Break the Limits) released their E.P. as Nu-Matic on XL Recordings, which sadly, was the start of the end for Break the Limits. However, it seemed to spark a few ideas for Bay B Kane, because this tune uses the same samples as "The Theme", remixing them into a way better arrangement, while keeping the spirit. Get it?
Get prepared for the whistle attack! We've got heavy breaks and an overall great reuse of the samples from "The Theme", but what I especially enjoy is the roughness, how everything is all slightly out of time. It retains that human element while also making it fun to bob around and groove to, and this tune pulls it off effortlessly. Just endless fun.
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Raging Rockers - Jungle Radio
Who thought to blend ska and hardcore? Well, Raging Rockers (who's actually a single bloke named Scott) thought that was a good idea, and by golly it works. Hardcore junglist... on my radio. That's the great thing about hardcore in the 90's, anything went, and in this case there's some prominent samples of The Selecter's "On My Radio" (namely the ska rhythm and vocals). Though the song may not stick out as technically impressive or anything, it contains all the core elements and an especially cool arrangement!
I remember first listening to it, and when everything but the strings gets stripped away, I was a little confused... but what followed was one of the few "eureka" moments I've had while listening to a tune. I also have the honour of finally owning this surprisingly rare record!
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The Foot Soldier - Who God Bless
The Foot Soldier is somewhat of an enigma, but this is from an E.P. he released on his beautifully named Blipton Factor Wreckords (god I love that name). The rest of the E.P. has his distinctive manic sound with daring samples (almost reminiscent of Bizzy's work!), but this is the chilled cut from the record.
From start to finish... the reggae rhythm/vocal which forms the basis for the whole song, the chipmunky "junglist!" vocal, and super lazy bassline are the core elements that make this song what it is. The melodics are put through this wonderful delay effect, which works to great... effect on the stab that comes in a third of the way through. Just the whole atmosphere is... auughh... GOD it's so nice.
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The House Crew - Keep the Fire Burning
Oh... yup, only one of the biggest tunes from the 90's. Released on the seminal label Production House, this tune is just massive, and it actually brings the atmosphere of a rave to you just from listening to it. The arrangement is entirely seamless, containing a wicked build-up at the beginning... then "cut the midrange, drop the bass"... and then BOOM. That drop is just amazing, but then some even nicer vocals come in as the bassline switches up!
Also, the B-side is a right laugh. GEAOOOONUP! GEAOOOONUP! GEAOOOONUP! GEAOOOONUP!
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Chris Energy - Days Gone By
This is my favourite hardcore song of all-time. Period. Every single part of it hits all the right spots for me. And truth be told, I only discovered Chris back in April '24, but he's quickly become my favourite (and most influential) producer. Since then, I've been lucky enough to meet him at a record fair, where he sold me an unplayed copy of this (as well as "Intelligent Core") for a great deal! Big ups Chris!
The thing I love is just how crazy it is. It goes from idea to idea, but this is exactly how my mind works, so it's like they're working together, and I swear I almost cry tears of joy whenever I hear it. All the sounds are awesome: tight breaks, stabs and pads playing with each other and an arrangement that's always changing. It is literal perfection in my eyes (...or is that ears?)
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Takeni Powers - Back 2 the Lab
Another one of my all-time favourites, this time throwing in a new-skool release by Takeni Powers, the son of Marc Mac (Manix)! This is one of those songs that I can't listen to just once. Despite the simple arrangement, I have to keep replaying it because I can't get enough of those beautiful pads.
With a distinct hip-hop influence, it contains some Rakim samples (courtesy of the legendary producer Tony D) taken from his song of the same name. I love the way the elements slowly make their way in and out, and it deserves way more attention as it's a lovely song!
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System Ex - Mindgames
When it comes to atmospheric Jungle, it doesn't get better than this, I'm sorry, it just doesn't. This song just takes you somewhere, and it contains all the key elements for a great tune of its kind. Of course you have the conventional sub-bass, but there's also a super jazzy bass guitar that takes turns with the main sub. And the pads used here are borderline euphoric. It's immaculately produced, but System Ex is another pseudonym for Photek, so what else would you expect?
Just don't expect to own this anytime soon. People ask silly money for this record (and the other two tracks, which are remixes of this tune and "Say It", are just... meh!)
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SLM - Die Hard
A criminally overlooked Tone Def release that doesn't get the attention it deserves. What you'll find here are some absolutely slamming Amen breaks, paired with the most beautiful pads known to man. This song is the perfect combination of the hard-hitting and softer, more atmospheric sides of Jungle. What I love about this tune is that I can actually imagine myself making this one in the studio!
Just hearing all those elements gets my mind racing with ideas, and in that regard, everything is put together perfectly. It's exactly as I would've made it. The breaks are tight, the mixture of sped-up vocals and ragga sounds ("kill it properly!") makes for an awesome contrast, and of course that sub just rattles the place. WHAT. A. CHUNE.