Hardcore History

The title of this excellent release is somewhat overstated. Suburban Base was arguably the most prolific and iconic label of hardcore and jungle music (though less so drum & bass). There are many genre classics on this collection, but it would be impossible on three CDs to come even close to capturing hardcore and jungle’s wonderfully chaotic, punk-like DIY approach. The culture spawned hundreds if not thousands of labels and many more producers, DJs, MCs and events. Much of its output was not primarily listened to as individual tracks, at home on CD or vinyl – but heard mixed together by DJs, on pirate radio stations, at raves and on mix tapes. “Hardcore” emerged around 1990-91 from the acid house and rave scene, a brilliant mutation of influences that brought together US and European house and techno, and, increasingly, sped-up hip hop or funk-derived “breakbeats”.
The term itself describes the aesthetic of the scene – gritty and unpretentious, adding a pugnacious edge to the blissed-out hedonism of acid house.

The title of this excellent release is somewhat overstated. Suburban Base was arguably the most prolific and iconic label of hardcore and jungle music (though less so drum & bass). There are many genre classics on this collection, but it would be impossible on three CDs to come even close to capturing hardcore and jungle’s wonderfully chaotic, punk-like DIY approach. The culture spawned hundreds if not thousands of labels and many more producers, DJs, MCs and events. Much of its output was not primarily listened to as individual tracks, at home on CD or vinyl – but heard mixed together by DJs, on pirate radio stations, at raves and on mix tapes. “Hardcore” emerged around 1990-91 from the acid house and rave scene, a brilliant mutation of influences that brought together US and European house and techno, and, increasingly, sped-up hip hop or funk-derived “breakbeats”.
The term itself describes the aesthetic of the scene – gritty and unpretentious, adding a pugnacious edge to the blissed-out hedonism of acid house.

The title of this excellent release is somewhat overstated. Suburban Base was arguably the most prolific and iconic label of hardcore and jungle music (though less so drum & bass). There are many genre classics on this collection, but it would be impossible on three CDs to come even close to capturing hardcore and jungle’s wonderfully chaotic, punk-like DIY approach. The culture spawned hundreds if not thousands of labels and many more producers, DJs, MCs and events. Much of its output was not primarily listened to as individual tracks, at home on CD or vinyl – but heard mixed together by DJs, on pirate radio stations, at raves and on mix tapes. “Hardcore” emerged around 1990-91 from the acid house and rave scene, a brilliant mutation of influences that brought together US and European house and techno, and, increasingly, sped-up hip hop or funk-derived “breakbeats”.
The term itself describes the aesthetic of the scene – gritty and unpretentious, adding a pugnacious edge to the blissed-out hedonism of acid house.