For the majority of releases in club music history, rhythm is a crucial ingredient. Two of the labels included in this mix even proudly carry it in their brand names – Strictly Rhythm & Rhythm Beat. But, in most of the said releases, rhythm is the backbone, the carrier for other sounds that establish the groove – basslines, keyboards, pads, vocals etc. Yet, the rhythm is prominently dictating the pace, taking turns and breaks, sometimes even shifting in tempo. Especially in the late 80′s to early 90′s, House and Techno often had music on a record’s tracklist that was originally destined only for skillful DJs – bonus beats, rhythm tracks, instrumental versions. Some only formed a reprise of the original material, taking up some of its key sounds for mixing double copies into little symphonies. Some were only the rhythmic skeleton of the original, displaying little more than beats, claps, percussion. Most of them were only a small portion of the original track in terms of length as well. Then there were original tracks that were just interested in being rhythm and not much else. Reducing a track to its very basics in the process, and neglecting the musical elements that, in most ears. make a track a TRACK. For some, that might be too little to attract attention, but for others, that might be all that matters. If well programmed and arranged, pure rhythm is just that: something pure. Something engaging, too. Something that can knock you out of your natural habits of listening. Something that urges you to move. Something where the rhythm is just a part of the whole picture.
While I went through my shelves recently to select records for a gig, I stumbled upon several records that had: a) basic rhythm tracks in a DJ tool sense b) tracks that were just made out of rhythmic elements or c) bonus beats and versions of regular dance tracks. Some of these tracks were just astounding, even if they did not much more than show what then young kids could jam together with their Rolands, or showing off that their tracks were still extraordinary with all the juicy bits and arrangements left out. It struck me that such tracks still exist, but way less than before. In some cases, producers may not want to spread out their ideas for tracks that only few people use or listen to, and DJs may not require it any longer anyway, because they can extract every element of a track with software and loop it into infinity if they want to, without even setting their drink aside. This mix, however, is not for showing how you make extended versions with bonus beats, or how you beef up a track with a different rhythm tool underneath. It is a tribute to the bonus beats and rhythm tracks on their own. That beatin’ rhythm Richard Temple once sang about in a revered Northern Soul song, albeit without hearing a drummer get wicked, but a drum machine.
There are enough great tracks around to record several sequels to this mix, and it is well worth digging for your own personal favourites. I might do a sequel with just the acapellas I found in the process. But that’s another story.
TRACKLIST:
01. The Untouchables – Somethin Bugged (Bugged Beats)
02. DJ Joe T. Vannelli feat. Csilla – Play With The Voice (MAW In Your Face Dub)
03. The Dope Wax All Stars – Happy Rose Bonus
04. The Hayden Andre Project – Tribal Life
05. Designer Music – Good Girls
06. Atmosfear – Dancing In Outer Space (Lunar Beats)
07. 808 State – Pacific 909 (Bonus Bird Beats)
08. Sweet Exorcist – Bonus Samba
09. Cheeba Starks Presents The Toupe Committee – Gogo Bop (Old Skool Chango Beats)
10. Jesse Saunders – 1A
11. Virgo – Go Wild Rhythm Trax A1
12. Gherkin Jerks – Don’t Dis The Beat
13. Matt Warren – Bang The Box (Bang The 808)
14. Basement Trax Vol. 1 – Bang The Box
15. Phuture – Spank Spank
16. 2 House People feat. Cynthia M – Trax My Body
17. Armando – We’re On The Move (Snare Your Ass Off)
18. F18. arley Jackmaster Funk – Farley Farley
19. Gallifré – 117 Beats
20. Jody “Fingers” Finch - Jack Your Big Booty (BHQ No Acid Vocal)
21. Disco D – 123 BPM
22. Foremost Poets – Reasons To Be Dismal? (Bonus Understanding)
23. Unknown Artist - Untitled A1
24. Old Skool - DJ Traxx Vox
25. Robert Armani – Pulse
26. Lil Louis And The Diamond Corp. – War Games (War Mix)
27. DJ Funk – Knock Knock
28. Lloyd Devestating Jackmaster – Dirty Knees
29. Steve Poindexter – Work That Motherfucker
30. 3 Tha Hardway – Hot Temptation (Drums 4 Ever)
31. Paul Johnson – It’s House (Beatin)
32. T.C. Crew – Get Into The Muzik
33. Ricky Smith – Working Without
34. House 2 House – Hypnotize Me (Hypnotic Beats)
35. Gemini 27 – Bonus Babies
36. Soundstrike - Party Machine (Party Beats)
37. Earth People – Reach Up To Mars (808 Bonus Mix)
38. Earth People – Earth People Party Mix (Instrumental)
39. Earth People – Dance (Beats)
DOWNLOAD HERE
(Source: Modyfier)
![Verdant Recordings presents Got This Feeling
It rarely happens for me but recording this late last night (after a couple of large rum & cokes) it all just all slotted into place and felt so good. Infact, I’m really proud of this one.
TRACKLIST:
Hanna /Healing (Sound Signature) Mike Huckaby /The Deep House World (Third Ear) Darren Abrams /Piano Track (Third Ear) Dubbyman /Love’s Alright [Above Smoke’s Dub] (Altered Moods) Above Smoke /Save Us (Minuendo) Makam /Good To You (Dekmantel) Amir Alexander /Everybody’s Beautiful [Acid Mix] (Hype_Ltd) Knarf Skipson /You Never Know (Quintessentials) Nick Solé /Never [Space Dub Vinyl Version] (Nowar) Black Jack /Triaxial (Soiree Records International) Dwayne Jensen /Ignition (Landed Records) Levon Vincent /Double Jointed Sex Freak *pt2 (Novel Sound) Dubbyman /Messages from the Dub [Huckaby Remix] (Deep Explorer) Andy Vaz /Norm Talley’s Feelin’ (Soiree Records International) Russ Gabriel /Narita Express (Dieb Audio) Kitano /Drifting (Deeper Meaning) Ron Trent /Sweetness (DBH-Music)
DOWNLOAD HERE](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maxw2rNsi31qzu84ro1_500.jpg)
