Blind Test: 80s Belgian New Beat - Episode 34 (Electronic Beats TV)

In this new Electronic Beats TV Blind Test, we look through the lens of Belgium’s iconic New Beat era of the 1980’s. This episode marks the thirty fourth instalment of our most treasured video series and some of the selections of our latest auditory quiz were contributed by Sonic Groove’s Adam X. Our esteemed artists being put to the test this time come in the shape of the widely worshiped Optimo member JD Twitch, Belgian Techno aficionado Kris Vanderheyden aka Insider, Marcos „Outlander“ Salon, a figurehead during the golden age of R&S Records. Additional we have the NYC long time scene player Reade Truth, writer, DJ, producer and SYNTHICIDE party promoter, Andi Harriman, and lastly Zanias, co-founder of Berlin's Fleisch collective. Join us as we revisit some of our top picks from this unique sonic space and time.
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
01:43 Round 2
03:50 Round 3
05:23 Round 4
07:14 Round 5
09:14 Round 6
11:11 Round 7
12:46 Round 8
14:21 Round 9
15:46 Round 10
18:05 Score
#blindtest #electronicbeats #newbeat
Need more EB.TV Blind tests? Check the playlist here: bit.ly/Blind_Tests

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Do you know that one of the most successful and productive new beat producers from the 80s is this gentleman? Inside: Sherman (Electronic Beats TV) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmSamXaad51peK8

[@johanjacobssonfranzen]

God, I love Blind Test. The best music show on KZbin.

[@Wormsie]

It's always fascinating to watch these Blind Test videos of a genre that I'm not very familiar with. When someone says "this is the best bit!" and I'm totally not feeling it at all, I can't help but think that this is probably how someone feels about my favorite dance music, too.

[@conformcontrast3232]

lol hard relate!!!

[@ingor.779]

I love that it starts straight away. No long intro. No long explanations. Just get started.

[@DJQUANTUM101]

In Mexico there is a great fan base of New Beat. Dont forget watch The Sound Of Belgium documentay. Greetings from Mexico City, and thank you for invited to Zanias.

[@patricklaureys9238]

I played Belgian New Beat in a club called City Limits in the Bahamas one night. They didn't like it at all. Literally nobody was dancing. Should have gone to Mexico instead. 😂 I got to play Karen Finley's "Tales of Taboo" on University of Georgia college radio too. You would probably get arrested now if you did that. 🥸

[@B1SCOOP]

are there any Mexican producers influenced by New Beat?

[@s90210h]

Seeing JD Twitch gave me this idea: do a Scottish Techno episode! Greetings from Brussels

[@NeuJacquesSwang]

or early-00’s electroclash

[@iainhannay4530]

Yes, a PURE special.

[@memyselfandher69-75]

Greetings from Belgium everyone.

[@memyselfandher69-75]

7.5 honor is safe! 😝 (this is the soundtrack of my second wave of nightlife after the one labeled goth/post-punk ...it obviously helps).

[@Steaminlidz]

Goedendag!

[@Akiwaki1999]

Groeten uit Mechelen!

[@sandrodellisanti1139]

Ciao from Brunswick in Germany to Belgium.. 🙃

[@FrederikNachtergaele]

Gent 🇧🇪🙋‍♂️

[@raspelkonig4636]

That Scarecrow 12" in the back is killing me. Good to see young people listening to stuff like this.

[@Iceleben]

Pre X-Marks the Pedwalk

[@MusicMyInspiration]

Although NB was relevant during a short period of time in the late 80's only, its influence on a variety of later styles should not be underestimated. Great selection!

[@timeagent]

To be honest, i had no clue what "belgium new beat" is. Turned out it's amazing. Need to listen to more of this stuff. Great blind test, as always.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Glad you like it!

[@IAmZen_007]

Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪 ❤

[@MinekEzQM]

It's the godfather of all electronic genres you probably like. :D

[@silenus_ip]

Check out The Sound of Belgium compilation. Best collection of New Beat tunes

[@B1SCOOP]

2manydjs "This Is Belgium Pt. 1" is best introduction. Entire history of the scene is captioned throughout the set.

[@iainmaclellan7226]

I was introduced to many of these by listening to JD twitch mixes. Favourite DJ

[@xci_highlectrix]

Same here!

[@steadystate4015]

FINALLY, my first great score on one of these.. a 9.5/10. This is probably my favorite series on KZbin of all time.

[@steadystate4015]

I only missed the artist for "Monster of L" if anyone was curious

[@johnpetrila4823]

I was waiting for Fatal Error from the start, and when it finally dropped my grin was so wide it almost hurt. Sometimes I feel like I'm on a small island in the middle of nowhere when it comes to enjoying New Beat, so it's awesome to see this here. Very much appreciate the curation of these tracks, and the stories and experiences shared by the participants. Cheers!

[@SebastianSnoeck]

Fatal error fantastique this track

[@simmycutters3757]

Very cool Blind Test for a genre I've never explored before. By the way, has to be said, my goodness Zanias is absolutely stunning! 😍

[@claassixclaassix9712]

"This is a New Style of Music" 🙂💜🧡💜🧡💜🧡🙃

[@christiandonatti4956]

Ammmmmazing episode! I love New Beat so, so much. Thanks a lot for this incredible blind test! Greetings from Argentina. (I have to hit my turntable and wake up my neighbors with some good all gems from Belgium...get ready Buenos Aires, it´s going to be a long night!)

[@daheikkinen]

I don’t know a lot of this music, I’m just a kid from Detroit. But I love this series for some reason. I always find some new (old) tracks to listen to.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Great!

[@o0L4nc3r0o]

As a Belgian born in the 80's, I never really experienced this genre. I was, however, waiting for "The Confetti's - The sound of C". I do remember that track very well from my childhood. :)

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

That was a bit later and already the sell out

[@klinkske]

Thank god you didn’t t go the cheap route

[@B1SCOOP]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV from the podcasts of producers like Ro Maron, I got the impression New Beat right from the beginning was a "sellout" music too, as it was produced directly on demand of local Dj venues (by former Synthpop/New Wave musicians). The difference with Confetti's was that they started appealing to non-underground audience after storming the charts.

[@mauricevanderheijden5261]

That was Nougat Beat ;)

[@stoneylane662]

This was a fave Blind Test. Time to refresh and expand my Belgian New Beat knowledge. Thanks.

[@djfredleo]

Belgian New Beat is such and inspirational genre! So good, so good!

[@MagisterHamid]

These episodes are like Christmas for me. I enjoy being introduced to old electronic genres I know very little of. Keep it up!

[@Flevable]

Best time spend on the internet

[@sbs-]

14:21, Round 9. It's amazing how a record could be well known in a distant place like mine, Argentina. A true must-have classic for NB collectors here. But, at the same time, a hard-to-guess track in this episode for great DJs/producers coming from the major cities in the world.

[@MrCrrispy]

It was also well known in France

[@IAmZen_007]

Greetings from Belgium (loved Prestige Club in Antwerp, but also Amnesia, La Rocca, AB, … etc.)

[@bazedjunkiii_tv]

loved that shit when i just started to discover electronic music, in primary school still. love it to this day.

[@nabukadnezar8439]

Great episode, electronic music is endless. Again a bunch of gems

[@r4x2]

Need a Part II with some Public Relation.

[@timchromecast]

and White House White, Secrets of China, Snowy Red (pre new beat), Caravan, Zsa Zsa La Boum, Trax 'Malfunction', Liaisons D,...

[@romanazbukin8687]

During my school years, I got hold the Belgian new beat "Various - Sampleur Et Sans Reproche (SSR Compilation 1) 1989". I really liked the first track of Sacher Musak- "Gorba The Chief", partly because russian phrases from the soviet film "Осенний Марафон" were sampled there. Greetings from Russia!

[@PeTeRFeCTo]

Never even heard about this style, so fun to discover the tracks with the guests. Crazy edited again!

[@craigladewig3158]

Zanias - very cute 😍

[@stephenhenderson9535]

Love this. Another banger episode. Never stop with these

[@ed_ms]

What a trip down memory lane. I just to go out to this music back in the 80's, amazing times.

[@deepclectic3529]

Missed one of my big favs from the genre in the test : Public Relation - Eighty Eight (1988 R&S Records)

[@_vlek_]

Oof, there goes my vinyl budget for this month. Great episode, as always

[@jamies9083]

Great episode. Would love to see Twitch back for a 90s UK rave episode.

[@antonyb8739]

I love your t shirt 242

[@MinekEzQM]

My favorite genre (sub-genre, sub-sub-genre, who cares). You made me very happy today. Thanks TEB TV!

[@milanb.6022]

It's amazing how many tiny micro scenes existed over time. I keep on saying that if you limited my music only to music that came out before the end of 80s i'd still never run out of new music to listen to.

[@thehowlingterror]

During the 1980s I would've hated this...yes hate. Now here I am really enjoying these and will be on the hunt for some ...what's it called..New Beat. Yep loved it.

[@marcjacobscontinued9411]

Yas, another Blind Test. Love these Blind Tests so much! Thanks for this one as well. Great stuff!

[@patricklaureys9238]

Oh I have been waiting for this one! I know every song. Like every song that was ever played at the Boccaccio in Destelbergen.

[@deaflikeelvis]

..great job once again! ..each episode is very adventurous, many thanks!🙏

[@DavidMorley]

Amazingly I remembered most of these. Some great tracks form that era.

[@tyromelive2851]

David ! 😊

[@DavidMorley]

@@tyromelive2851 🎶🎼❤️

[@timchromecast]

Streetwise

[@emzed1275]

Yes….that was great AGAIN……as always … can’t wait for the next one already…thanks EB

[@alexanderdewispelaere4104]

I remember (vaguely) hearing this on either Liaisons Dangereuses (Radio SIS Antwerp) on Thursday nights or on Radio Centraal (Pierre Elitair) on Sunday mornings back in the late eighties. Nostalgia from Belgium.

[@d.p.1980]

Another great episode! Thanks!

[@aytekindurmus2142]

Amnesia - Hysteria absolute Timeless - Love This Tune

[@Brokout]

This one beat me to a pulp! Fantastic selections

[@thatmate6732]

that 242 T-shirt that Twitch's wearing immediately made me wanna listen 2 some Skinny Puppy)) Andi rOOOXXX! thank you TLKMBTZ for another great BlindTest issue, U R da best

[@OlafFinkbeiner]

Greetings to Twitch from Frankfurt and i knew you would perform well here when i suggested you a while ago

[@iteamy]

My first though was "Keith will smash this"

[@MasterMindMex]

Grandiosa música. ¡El verdadero New Beat!

[@streetsoundselectro124]

I didn't miss this, I always look out for these treats!

[@mst3kld]

Thank you for this exposure to new music. I have no idea what this stuff is but love it.

[@wearetemporary]

New fav episode :)

[@SnakeyUk08]

Not suprising i got none but i can see where the epic intros of belgian techno came from 🤗😆

[@Cyberbat]

Brilliant, as always! :)

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@CeicaCellMusic]

I wish it was a weekly show.

[@hemipode9]

Love this series keep it up!! I had that mandate my ass 12 but lost it moving house. Loved hearing it again made me have instant flashback to 89. So cool.

[@IWitnessDnB]

thanks for this, once again! greets from Belgium :)

[@billybattle]

Round 8 is one of my favorites New Beat tracks.

[@mumfnah]

I just learnt that R&S used to be named Ferrari Records then. I've a few of their records in my collection but obviously later stuff after the renaming

[@peterm85]

Where did you get this info? R&S (Renaat & Sabine) Records was always R&S since 1984 (I think). I think I have 1 or 2 of these Ferrari records too, but I doubt they are from before R&S was founded.

[@kenzootje]

Ferrari Records = R&S records. Check the credits on those records. There were even records with the Ferrari logo on the sleeve and the R&S logo on the vinyl itselve.

[@mumfnah]

​@@peterm85I meant I only learned from this video here, where they talk about it at 10:00 mark in. I have records like Outlander Vamp, and used to think the logo looked a lot like the Ferrari logo. But I didn't know the record label used to also use the name "Ferrari" in their early days. Looks like the late 80s releases were when they had the Ferrari name and full copy logo of the prancing horse against the yellow background. But I never had seen them in record shops when I was buying a lot which was ~91 and later

[@peterm85]

@@mumfnah I misunderstood then. I was mostly curious, because I was gonna learn something new. :-) And I did, I didn’t know that the Ferrari record I had was part of R&S.

[@nowherebells]

​@@mumfnah I understood the same, Ferrari logo = The horse on R&S 👍

[@knob_agency]

Great episode!

[@TocKa79]

i just cant help to smile through the video - even I have not ever been touched by this era and sound, all started for me in the 90s. Nevertheless its great to see how all of them live and feel the sound and though many are very cold at the beginning they melt troughout the tracks and show such emotions and energy its the greatest thing. thanks for this

[@djctoafn]

Never heard of this entire genre, but the beats are rad :)

[@grahammcleod5456]

Way to go Twitch!

[@bartomiejdolny7555]

Super cool!

[@JEANBRUCE1991]

8 out of 10, the Monster of L mislead me because they sampled the Amnesia - Boys from London main bass

[@cgjtuber]

When I thought I’ve heard them all, there you go, discovering me 3 “new” new beat tracks! Will this ever end? I hope not! :) Loved this blind test so much, thank you!

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

It will end when we can't find any more DJs who want to take part, which is already the case in some genres.

[@jdrukman]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV give me a call, i was a rave dj in the 90s although i've mostly been doing production for the last 30 years :)

[@GHK--Q4r324]

Woah round 7 hit me, great song.

[@christianchall8169]

first time i heard about "New Beat" from Belgium....sounds great and so late 80´s....and Zanias is very attractive and sexy....by the way...;-)

[@bazedjunkiii_tv]

probably the german agreppo style which appeared around the same time or a little bit later might be also sth to explore

[@DasDoktorchen]

This series is great 🙂

[@edaniels240]

Some dope beautiful bangin Belgian acid techno tracks

[@Graeme_Norgate]

Love it

[@johnmurch5653]

I Love BLIND TEST

[@ultralife73]

LOVE THIS. I forgot about some of them and discovered a new one to me too. Also: Where's CURSES when you need him!?

[@geevee5815]

I saw a few of these blind tests before and already wondered why new beat was missing and here it is. I was 15 or 16 when most of these tracks came out and for several tracks just a few seconds were enough to know what it was but the archive in my head ain't as big as those of the attenders ofcourse. I would've picked Celcius instead of Hysteria from Amnesia tho as it was less known while it's still a great track.

[@des_bloom]

Keith, big man! a lovely surprise

[@Melkisedectube]

We need even more music from Belgium!

[@vitaliiandronov8629]

what a beginning for a day! immediately recognised the first one and thought it will be easy one but nah. great selection

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

You can't even have watched the whole video in the time from publication to your comment 🙄

[@vitaliiandronov8629]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV I felt that I need to say it

[@CenkAkyol]

Wow! This selection was the most obscure so far 'I can't say much for EBM, dubstep and UK garage selections as I wasn't listening those genres) and of course very fine. And again nice bunch of new and old people (nails was scary though). Thank you.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Obscure? They're actually all New Beat Classics with the exception of maybe 2-3 tracks.

[@markosbornestudio]

Nice one Twitch ❤

[@KOBEKINO71]

antes de pincharlo sabía que iba ganar los puntos belgas JDTwitch (gran Dj como Optimo) ENORME Blind Test! con el de EBM de lo mejor aquí! favorito track New Beat: La Rolls - Sure Is (24 Tracks Mix) (1988)

[@silberschwein]

Ich LIEBE euer Format. Es ist immer super, auch wenn der Musikstil nicht immer mein Favorit ist. Diese Folge hier ist besonders gut. Nicht 100% mein Style - aber alle Protagonisten sind mega Sympathisch. Ich hab mich ein wenig verliebt. :-)

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Das freut uns sehr!

[@bazedjunkiii_tv]

es braucht bedeutend mehr new beat. ueberall. schon immer.

[@artboxravensburg9715]

oh you all did it well )))

[@BuzzaB77]

So this is what Adrian Sherwood and Trent Reznor were listening too when they made PHM !

[@Elctrc]

Oh, it gets tougher but also very inspirational 1/10 😅

[@Bondurant-lr5jj]

I have just understood Virgin in-D Sky's word trick 😆

[@bst_mu]

Tks for "Front 242" t-short👍

[@McAntichrist]

Shocking that Keith won... :D

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Super shocking 😂

[@SeeWildlife]

Spoiler!

[@Bucketroo]

That was tough. I've only heard 2 of these, and that was a long time ago. If there had been Warbeat or anything from Praga Khan, I would have had a better chance. :D

[@Dr.Quarex]

Oh god I have been waiting for this one, the only one I am going to have a chance at! I bet I will get......at least one right, haha. Edit: Well I recognized In-D but could not remember the track name, and I knew Tragic Error immediately but otherwise hahaaa nope, I am definitely not Belgian. Oh thank god I got Amnesia too though only because Hysteria was a huge track from my Demoscene days

[@BuzzaB77]

I can spot most of the drums but I can't think where half these snares are from. Fantastic.

[@sandrodellisanti1139]

Ciao and thank you for your very nice Video, which i like to share at Telegram and at Tribel, personally i only know a few New Beat Songs, Confettis with Sound of C, MAXX with Cocaine and Amnesia with Ibiza, but love them.. in 1988 i was 19 years old, great Times back then, one year later i started to do some Tracker Music with my Amiga Computer.. many greetings to Belgium from Brunswick in Germany and please stay safe, i hope to visit you in Belgium in the next time..

[@sandrodellisanti1139]

..i've forgotten this..🙃

[@dennisgenovese227]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@paulcrainie4155]

Had suggested Andi Harriman. Glad she done well 😎

[@MrDjtix]

I grew up with these sounds... and it will be forever.. my channel YT is clear about my origins..❤

[@klinkske]

Shout out to Insider! I knew Voices after a second but it was hard for the rest. I hope there will be a part 2. I met Schicksal 2 months ago. He told me he was going to do a show with front 242. Amazing song.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

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.

[@klinkske]

I know. I can tell.

[@djfredleo]

"Round 6" has a sample of Gil Scott-Heron's "B Movie" (Well, the first thing I want to say is: Mandate my ass!) A legendary track, which had its second life, when Underworld kicked their "Back To Mine" compilation with it.

[@ElectronicBeatsTV]

Thats what JD says in the video

[@djfredleo]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV Yeah, Sure 😀

[@djfredleo]

@@ElectronicBeatsTV I'm not trying to be smarter than I am 🤝

[@MagisterHamid]

04:23 guy is sitting in a freaking space ship LOL

[@instruktor6467]

❤