Blind Test: 1990-1993 UK Hardcore / Breakbeat - Episode 29 (Electronic Beats TV)

For this twenty ninth episode of our popular Electronic Beats TV blind test series we lay focus on the Hardcore and Breakbeat sound coming out of the UK between 1990 and 1993. This iconic era of the genre saw the sound break out of from its home turf of the UK, expanding throughout Europe and beyond. Eventually this led to the formation of Drum & Bass and Jungle.
In this episode we put a number of aficionados of the genre to the test, namely Acen, a 90’s UK Hardcore stalwart known for many classics on Production House. Dutch DJ Estella Boersma steps up, notably known for her releases on Unknown To The Unknown’s Dance Trax imprint. London’s Louise Plus One also joins, a staple of the scene in the 90’s through her performances with the Shtonka Sound System crew and her own ReRaveAll parties. We also welcome DJ Pooch another legend of the scene and producer under numerous different aliases, additionally joining us is one half of the groundbreaking Ragga Twins duo Flinty Badman and lastly Joe Nebula who was a beacon of light for the Northern English Hardcore scene and along with his crew launched The Warehouse in Doncaster, which went on to become one of the most vital club spaces for the sound across the country.
Please note that this video is not filmed in real time. It’s edited to create some tension so that you in front of the screen can guess as well. It doesn’t say anything about how fast the participants recognised the track etc.
All contestants receive one point for both artist and title correct, but only half a point if they can only guess the artist or the title.
Production: Sense Music & Media for Electronic Beats TV
Idea, Recordings and Track selection: Holger Wick
Edit and Graphics: Klara Mottlova
Production Supervisor: Romi Agel
00:00 Intro
00:18 Round 1
01:34 Round 2
03:04 Round 3
04:28 Round 4
05:43 Round 5
07:08 Round 6
08:27 Round 7
09:36 Round 8
10:56 Round 9
12:05 Round 10
13:22 Score
#blindtest #electronicbeats #ukhardcore #breakbeat
Need more EB.TV Blind tests? Check the playlist here: bit.ly/Blind_Tests

[@gaijingabber1056]

thank god for shows like this to help us younger people understand

[@emzed1275]

Keep informing yourself, that’s what makes it positive…enjoy

[@harrylime22]

So much amazing music from 88 to 93.

[@gaijingabber1056]

@@harrylime22 agreed, im only recently getting into industrial 80s shit. FLA and skinny puppy

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

@gaijingabber1056 Then this is for you Blind Test // 80s EBM / Industrial #2 - Episode 26 (Electronic Beats TV) kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3SQeKaYf9SEsNU Blind Test // 80s EBM / Industrial - Episode 3 (Electronic Beats TV) kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4bWnZ96ip5qj6M

[@SanRemoMotelBar]

Couldn't agree more! Whole series is such a good underground dance music education

[@withnail6969]

Acen was the king of 1991/1992. Great to see him on here

[@MarOlVo]

And he is back. With new album and everything. look out for Kniteclub2

[@colincharan-kumpula6424]

To the moon

[@edali2163please]

Trip to the Moon parts 1, 2 and 3. Part 3 is my favourite

[@boxy8673]

big fucking shoutout to acen ❤

[@nedbarton4905]

@@edali2163please just put pt2 on again, shockingly good production

[@ronron517]

One day we will sit in the old people's homes and some nice nurses will play these legends to us... and we will feel so much energy. This music is the soundtrack of my life

[@hanklewis6371]

Estella was born in ‘99. Great to see how good her knowledge of music is! ❤

[@krishnataveras8734]

I know, I was so surprised that she being so young could know any of these tunes.

[@bobbyhorsman9963]

Amazing.

[@frsm_]

thats why her Sets are so amazing.

[@NS-pj8dr]

​​@@krishnataveras8734you'd be surprised. I was born in 96 and knew every tune :) Thank you to all the youtube vinyl uploaders for sharing this music, i would never have found it otherwise

[@harleystapleton8994]

I was born in 06 knew every tune

[@aquarian4631]

big up estella for going head to head with these legends of the scene - old enough to be her parents!

[@JoeNebula]

🤣 ya not wrong!!

[@markrammers8406]

Even if you'd make a Blind Test on early 80's rabbit noises, I'd still watch it. Never disappoints!

[@henrykhenrykowski2745]

80'-90' Harsh Noise blind test... that would be something :D Of course Merzbow must be invited :]

[@unoriginalrudeboi7261]

I wasn't even born but for me 90-93 is the most fun and exciting era of uk rave music.

[@RBC0405]

Greatest genre ever. Did so much for the UK dance scene.

[@MrBendixxx]

Well, that was by far and away the best Blind Test done. Makes you realise how good that 90-93 uk sound was. It was a hotbed of talent and creativity. Well done!

[@andrewwowk9385]

Cmpnded still SLAMS. I played it the other weekend to a crowd of young'uns (couldn't have been anyone older than 25 in the crowd) and it absolutely flattened the dancefloor.

[@ColonelForkEyes]

Oh wow, Louise Plus One... We met once in the past quite randomly. Me and my housemate at the time had been to Fabric on a Saturday night but the vibes were off and we weren't feeling it so decided to go home, we met you on the bus back to Hackney, we got chatting cos you had a record bag on you and you invited me/us to a squat party in a disused pub somewhere in Hackney by a river or canal. You told me to bring some D&B records, so I did and ended up having an awesome time playing some of my favourite tunes on an outdoor rig. I think it was a Malfaiteurs party... Way better fun than the ditch water dull Fabric tunes. Thanks for saving that weekend!

[@LouisePlusOne]

Wicked stuff! I remember that party and meeting you guys. come to a Distant Planet party one day if you fancy it and say hello. :)

[@jamesyhnell3462]

My favorite time was 91/93 but the rave scene and underground scene is the gift that keeps giving. I still play some these at my residency and it the best seeing the younger generation go nuts for my old skool hour. Hardcore will never die 🙂

[@billybobkingston5604]

was a DJ at squat raves in the south coast of England in the early 90's, I did the chill out room so it was mainly dub reggae, the hardcore techno in the main event was fecking mental, greetings from Ireland

[@NS-pj8dr]

Where do you play at? Would love to hear these tunes live

[@Eightball69]

Tic Tac Toe Ephemerol is hands down the greatest of them all ✊

[@elusivemite]

I recognised 8 named 4. Not to shabby considering I was 9 in 91. Love these years.

[@damiencrowe6098]

What an era and genre!!

[@DistantPlanetTV]

Yes, yes, can't wait to see this! Bigup Distant Planets' very own Louise Plus One!

[@courtneybegzo]

Gwan Louise!

[@timstewart8752]

Yes Louise, smashed it as usual!

[@oldschoolgeezer]

Top work Louise, big up Distant Planet ❤

[@DannySB991]

Was born in 93 so don't know any of these tracks but wow, they sound great. Definitely going to take a deep dive into this era of hardcore.

[@pojuantsalo3475]

Please do, because electronic dance music really peaked in early 90's.

[@stephenhenderson9535]

Oh your in for a treat. Check out some of the DJ Scott and MC crazy b. These guys knew how to put on a party

[@MCcheck97]

Enjoy your explore into the hardcore and jungle!

[@spacedebris566]

the only era of hardcore

[@fishmeister2625]

Check out Orca - 4AM, one of my favourite tunes from the era. I was in my early teens during the early 90s, just slightly too young to go to the clubs/events, however bought plenty of tape packs of dozens of events. Love this era of electronic music.

[@hemipode9]

Wish Telekom broke the rules and made it 20 tunes for this one 🔥

[@NS-pj8dr]

Love this era so much. I was born in 96 but discovered this stuff on youtube in 2010 and been listening ever since. There's nothing like it.

[@NS-pj8dr]

Amazing track selection.

[@trippymchippy8586]

The only good thing about being 51 is knowing all these tunes lol.

[@SanRemoMotelBar]

Loving that they've thrown in a few younger DJs into these Blind Tests - Estella, Saoirse, Kiki, Job Jobse etc

[@MrAaronb400]

Born in 94 and knew all these. Play them on repeat all the time and have loads on tapes from my parents recording them

[@damiencrowe6098]

So many good tunes from the hardcore breakbeat days.. you could 10 of these vids!

[@MrHughesee]

That DJ Biz track is quite an under the radar gem. I actually knew a sound engineer that was working at the studio when it was made. The studio was called Basement Records on an industrial park in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire (Not to be confused with Basement in Reading); it was a very basic studio Akai S1000 Sampler, Korg M1 keyboard, Atari ST and a mixing desk that was about it! LTJ Bukem came in and did a remix which was a much more mellow arrangement. I was lucky enough to be given one of the stamped white labels at the time. I think it was only released as that. The No Limit label has some obscure but great tunes.

[@meteb1100]

I got that bukem remix and it's lovely. Can't say that croxley still has a studio though 🤣

[@T0pBaNaNa]

Yeah that got me too but still managed a respectable 8/10 😂

[@driftbp]

Yeah the DJ Biz track is great and still pretty affordable by todays standards!

[@IUKC]

Cool info and Big Ups to Louise for her top score!

[@hobokeegan]

Love that track!! Was surprised to hear it in this blind test.

[@darkstarr2321]

Along with acid house, breakbeat hardcore is the foundation in the UK

[@elnoodel666]

This is the literally best oldskool video on the whole of KZbin. It's incredible. Absolute bangers. All of em 😍🤩😍

[@sumguy835]

Each track comes with a different club/warehouse, place in time in my head when I hear them again. Crazy...

[@Protopaq]

Saw Estella last Saturday @Lakedance, she's awesome! (Estella, I was the old guy right in the front dancing his socks off! 😄) Great to hear these classic sounds again!

[@maxb4057]

what a time for electronic music 🥰

[@perryconnolly74]

Louise plus one, please let me know where you got your Outer Rhythm tee from. Love it. Good tunes brings back so many memories.

[@ceeej1290]

That tic tac toe tune is lethal 😍

[@toasterboy708]

Dark as fuck.

[@dominicturner77]

The guy behind it is the guy out of basement jaxx I think

[@kevintaylor31]

Some absolute bangers in there. These tracks are much better than the tunes that today's producers knock out.

[@wilfullness]

Acen was the very bar for top of the game production at the time. His flow-palate and the sheer quality of production was unparalled. His partner Dyce who wrote and produced Let Me Be Your Fantasy two years before it finally hit the chart was no doubt up there with him. Suburban Base was fly as F too. Oh, and early Moving Shadow (Cosmo & Dibs, 2 Bad Mice, DJ Trax, et al) 🔴🔴🔴

[@donrosco]

+1 acen’s production was on a different level to most other producers at the time.

[@dustinairola4301]

He’s still making stuff on Kniteforce.

[@partycle352]

This is soooo impressive how they are all so well-versed in these tracks. Insane.

[@avari9403]

not gonna lie, i'm not here to guess, but to look for new music hahaha, love this series!!

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Fair enough 😉

[@dannyvalentino328]

Or old music...old, good music😃

[@FrothingFanboy]

I'm here for both. :)

[@Wanderlust]

*Love this!*

[@lustersavage8986]

Hi Wanderlust

[@dexterr3txed664]

TIL that there was a genre called "UK Hardcore" (separate from the gabber hardcore). A valuable contribution to my musical knowledge indeed. And helping to differentiate between the myriad elements of what I call the "UK sound" (of which there are so many). Great episode as always, Telekom Electronic Beats TV!

[@blossie33]

Well done Louise!!!

[@UnoDat]

I've been waiting for this one! Hardcore will never die!

[@gregrodgers107]

Old skool hardcore lives in dance music history forever, hardcore will never die

[@ysteinr.2232]

This was massive 🙌🏻 We need part 2 🙏🏻

[@wolfeflambe]

This makes me want to dust off my technics and spin some old tunes. Love Ephemeral. One of the best old school tunes out there. Shout out to the Eclipse crew.

[@EchoSoundsystem]

Absolute class. I just dropped a rave / breakbeat / hardcore set to a whole bunch of teens and they lost their minds.

[@skatechatham]

I could fully see it making a comeback, it sounds new to these kids. That producer Mallgrab is huge and has a lot of 90's rave inspired tunes.

[@dustinairola4301]

@@skatechathamIn LA it made a comeback already and is super popular right now.

[@skatechatham]

@@dustinairola4301 amazing to hear!

[@EchoSoundsystem]

@@dustinairola4301 seeing a lot of jungle and dnb coming back too, on that breakbeat. Psy trance / techno huge here in Europe right now. Will be interesting to see how this all develops. Rave hasn't been big since the 90s, hope it comes back. One of the great eras of electronic music @dustinairola4301

[@ReadySteadyDESTROY]

I'm in Boston MA and I hear tunes like this at raves. People are getting back into it!

[@Brokout]

What a great episode, all these tracks got me so excited and it was so nice to share that feeling with the guests, thank you!

[@4TheWinQuinn]

This series is easily one of the best ever on the internet. Thanks so much guys.

[@jaime8174]

Loved it! I thought I knew my UK hardcore but tracks 7-9 new to me. Every day is an (old) skool day ! 😊

[@florianfanderl6674]

God I love this music. So sad I'm a little bit too young to have heard this in the clubs. I started Drum and Bass in the late 90s :) that was exciting as well (for me the golden age of drum and bass)

[@toasterboy708]

THIS is the one i've been hoping for. My youth, in 13 minutes. And with the man like Acen as well!!!! Yes yes....

[@asusedz]

Nothing can beat that feeling when you hear these tunes and you smile…. Quality episode ❤❤❤

[@sheppsi6934]

Need a part II ASAP !!!

[@nigelbenn4642]

3:40 Bless her little face! A classic that every raver knew just dropped and I can tell you darlin it was freaking wicked first time round.

[@mingwingming1999]

I could have sat through 100 rounds of that - amazing times ❤

[@SEFFOfficial]

I’m fairly positive that the majority of Vibes’ stuff was all engineered by the legend that is Grant Nelson AKA Wishdoktor ❤ 🎉 Beautiful record that one, ‘Sing it Loud’ on the A-Side was class as well!! 😎

[@leonk491]

you beat me to it :)

[@bigbrobunny]

Yes mate!

[@mossadon]

JOE!...How the hell did you guys find him? Not seen him since the late 90s in Depth Charge record shop. Played with him a few times at the legendary Donny Warehouse as it was known, along with Ashley from the O.G Warp Records shop. Joe certainly was a Don Dada of the Northern scene....still play one of his tunes to this day. Maaan this gave me Pirate Radio flashbacks. Another absolutely crackin show Telekon Krew!!!

[@JoeNebula]

BIG UP! Yes Ashley was the originator of the BYO along with Marcus from Scunthorpe. Good times. I hope you are well and good :)

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Legend!

[@mossadon]

@@JoeNebula BYO.......hah! Not heard it called that in a loooong time. Good to see you droppin the knowledge here Joe. Hope the universe is smiling upon thee, r kid. >places right fist on open left palm and bows

[@orbtastic]

@@JoeNebula Blimey, legend. I used to DJ on The Power Station at the time, your tunes were massive back then. I managed to get 7/10 here.

[@Takepowers]

@@JoeNebula Funny you guessed that the "Head In The Cloud" title is wrong for sec.

[@deanstowell3810]

I can’t wait to see Louise plus one A great Dj selector

[@LouisePlusOne]

Thanks Dean. :)

[@DjDarkD]

Estella Boersma has such a Dutch reaction to these tracks. Love it!

[@thunderingmantis8026]

Yes Louise! 🏆

[@linnanjanne]

Acen, you are my hero. My gosh how I love your tunes! ❤

[@ndangelo]

I was born in 91. This was the time I should of been able to rave! Best era for music!! 90-93 UK hardcore can't be topped in my opionion!

[@straightouttacornwall]

It was the mutts nutts.

[@786Muzik]

Amazing how well their memory still works!

[@max.rodenkirchen]

Please NEVER EVER change anything about this format! It's so good. I'm enjoying and learning a lot. 👌 Question: These tunes sound kinda compressed. Is it just because of older recording techniques or is it KZbin?

[@hakanelmaci1348]

It's how they were produced.

[@JoeNebula]

​@@hakanelmaci1348analogue mixing desks. 😊

[@otschikaminski]

and sometimes these tracks were produced thursday afternoon and then cutted on dubplates for friday night rave. those were the days. 😎

[@akabuddy]

when they are using amiga computers with 8bit audio, it sounds just like that

[@JoeNebula]

@@akabuddy Yes we did use the Amiga for our first two major releases on Reinforced and J4M. Good times 4 tracks only.

[@KevGee]

Got 7/10... not bad!! the UK sound at this time was amazing!! Things moved so quick from month to month. new production methods and BPM increases month on month. There is a big revival of the UK Breakbeat hardcore sound led by people like the Kniteforce crew and of course the old skool legends such as Reinforced records. massive respect to all the original UK Hardcore producers!

[@electroid8119]

Great times - I was only 10 but used to listen to all the pirate stations (there were about 10 near me!) all day during the weekends

[@guidosignori4051]

i ve got 29 years and i listen this type of music every morning

[@DjFIL007]

Amazing how many just these single songs developed/progressed/changed from start to finish compared to modern tracks. These were bit before my time (but not by many years) but a banger episode and loved very minute of it.

[@AnthologyOfDave]

God, I'm crying right now remembering the best fkn times of my life. Good tears, not sad. Such an amazing time and the movement was in full effect.

[@Thomasg19]

Always adding a few tunes to my playlist after a Blind Test episode. Another great selection! Cheers

[@ExNought]

Thank you for continuously making these, I love it!

[@inamortz2372]

This channel is a treasure.

[@Whoop0]

Love these blind tests, thanks for doing them. Solid selection.

[@TheFesta01]

Love this episode..... more please!!!

[@10178jojo]

Love this series back to my happy days

[@MichaelOglesby]

Another great episode :) Keep them coming!

[@Oddtechaudio]

Great episode, definitely need more episodes of this genre👍

[@foodiebreeze3299]

Fantastic video with awesome guests

[@Takepowers]

6:28 - "It's not Head In The Clouds, is it?" It is, Joe Nebula, It is. LOL

[@TheElusiveTool]

I really love this series. I would also love to see some of these legends talking to each other about the scene and the music.

[@stephanmodry1301]

I love these videos. Everything about them.

[@jamiecowling2934]

WOW! What an amazing episode this really is! These were the glory days!!!

[@kcat80]

brilliant episode ,great work everyone who got involved

[@Suckz2002]

That was a very cool one! Flashbacks all the time. ❤️

[@justbhoy8314]

One of the best there. Well done everyone. Always brings a smile to my face.

[@ahukk]

I jumped on the train around ’96 with Metalheadz, GLR, Moving Shadow, etc. and at that time the 90-93 vibe sounded somewhat primitive; but over the years I have come to appreciate this era more and more

[@paulstuntmaster4469]

Awesome blind test of such a great era

[@gleb251747]

Thank you, great choice of songs! This music keeps me alive, was cool to recognize most of the compositions!!

[@garybocking4541]

Love these blind tests!!

[@jadizm]

Appreciate putting my recommended track in their Telekom! Never stop this series mate! Respect!

[@Sharpzilla]

This era of tunes will always be special. Great video

[@ceeej1290]

Love this era of hardcore, great selection ❤

[@d.p.1980]

Great! Like usual.

[@emzed1275]

That was good fun, always love these videos, WE WANT MORE…..

[@mumfnah]

Great selection. Going to be playing these throughout today now I know it 👍

[@djrohan_presents]

awesome! great selection and great to see these legends trying to figure it out...... love the Rave Days....

[@AW-Services]

Another absolute favourite blind test second to the Gabber one. Acen & Nebula are massive acts. Big respect

[@rikgrafiek3073]

goosebumps. These sounds changed my life

[@christopheredwards4012]

Also Acen's got a nice gaff! Well-earned to be honest, bloke is a genius.

[@nicon237]

It could be just his Teams background bro 😅 But yeah well deserved, bloke is a legend

[@MrKwodsonikpunk]

Is that Floyd dyce?

[@McNasty214]

It's interesting seeing how the music style started to evolve towards jungle through the years

[@MrBURSHAK]

One of my favourite series on KZbin 😎😎

[@AndySpinna]

You must do more of these I so enjoyed joining in best test ever!💯

[@sealslayer]

This was so awesome to watch, best era of music and life ❤❤

[@danwhite7629]

Proper rave music. So evocative. Great episode thanks!