Issue 45 – Ravescene

Ravescene Magazeen #45 (November ’93) features Bizzy B on his creative journey, the myth of “dark” music, and the unity and energy that make his tracks essential in rave culture.

Published
19th November 1993 (approx)

Pages
12 (A5 B&W)

Strapline
THE BUZZINESS

FEATURED ARTICLE – BIZZY B – Creator of the Dark style?

Adrian H here with some more Double Egg. This week I speak to one of the nice guys to the scene, one of the innovators in my opinion of the dark sound and has more records out than you’ve had hot dinners (slight exaggeration there, for effect) Da man in the eggcup this week is 22 and from Leyton, East London. He worked his way up “as you dooo” from DJaying in pubs and parties around his area to residencing at the Dungeons, Lea Bridge Road with DJ’s such as Ellis Dee, Chalky White ‘Bob’ and myself (those were the good old days), then he really started concentrating on his chewns. If you buy records it’s almost 99.9% certain that you have one of his chewns in your collection. Bizzy says when he is making his chewns he always thinks of all ravers and tries to please everyone. He likes to think of his music as more hi energy (“music you can get exhausted to”) than dark. Some of the chewns he has made include The Brainstorm EP, Revolution, Crowd Says Rewind, The Science EP. He’s also made records alongside people such as D.LUX, Peshay, Cool Hand Flex, DJ Hype, Formula Seven, Slammin Crew, Information Society and many more, on labels such as Brain (his own label) Quayside Records, One Off Records, Big City, Reinforced, Sub Bass and White House.

These credentials made me sure that he could clear up something that is not very well understood. I asked Bizzy B ‘What Is Dark Music?’ He told me that the way he sees it Dark music is not dark music. People get the word Dark mixed up with the expression eg. if something is good you say ‘wicked’ but people used to say ’dark’ instead. Maybe being someone that’s falling into this trap I asked him what would he call his music because I consider it pretty dark, he said that personally he tries to make it as original as he can moving away from sampling huge chunks of other people’s records and not categorise to one group of ravers. Original that is a word I say often when describing the sounds of this man’s chewns, so maybe Dark can be split up into two groups – original and dark. Original which I think would also include the Reinforced Cru, L.T.J Bukem, Moving Shadow, Ram Records and a few others, and dark including the tracks which Buzz thinks are killing the dark scene which are tracks “that are not music, sound absolutely terrible and do nothing for you apart from give you a headache, you’ll be standing in a rave, hear a tune that is rubbish and call it dark , but it’s not dark, it’s just crap. Bizzy told me that to him the point of a rave is the good feeling, the peace and unity and that a rave without the white glove crew wouldn’t really be a rave”.

Some of the music that is being played sounds sadistic with a devil worship type groove which doesn’t go with the happy side, so people label it as dark. To try to bring this short chat to some sort of conclusion because Bizzy just squeezed me in before he had to do a radio show, we agreed that Dark is not really a music form, but just a term hastily given to a form of music which is misunderstood, original music, but as with most music forms for every 10 dark tunes that are made maybe only two of them are any good, and it’s the other eight that we always seem to hear. Well, after all that I still could not tell you what dark music is, but I could tell you that Bizzy B’s tunes, be they Dark, hardcore, jungle whatever you like to call it always work for me….

ADVERTS

  • Helter Skelter – December 3rd 1993 @ The Sanctuary
  • Labrynth Recordings Jiimmy J – Bad DJ / Into The Music
  • Confusion (Return to ’89) @ 12 Dalston Lane
  • Knite Force
  • Entity Records – Ferrari Love Chick (R.C.B.) / Bhangra Love Mix
  • Flite Crew Promotions
  • Wax City Records, 306-308 London Road, Croydon
  • Mo’s Music Machine
  • Destiny The Cream & Rise & Shine – Journey To Atlantis
  • Hard Leaders III
Destiny The Cream Journey To Atlantis

RAVE LISTINGS

  • Labrynth Warehouse An aMAZEing Party! Saturday 4th December 1993. Bagleys Film Studios, York Way, Kings Cross, London N1
  • Rise & Shine Saturday 27th November. The Pier, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
  • Ultra-Violate Party Night Friday 19th November. Club Labrynth, 12 Dalston Lane, London E8
  • Reincarnation Saturday 20th November. Kings Hall, Herne Bay, Kent
  • Total Kaos Starlight Saturday 20th November. The Edge, Lower Ford St, Coventry
  • Living Dream Saturday 20th November. The Rocket, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7
  • Universe At Quest Saturday 20th November. Palomas, Broad Street, Wolverhampton
  • Megadog Friday 26th November. The Rocket, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7
  • Fantazia Saturday 27th November. SECC, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Foam Party Saturday 27th November. Club Labrynth, 12 Dalston Lane, London E8
  • Elevation & Orange Saturday 27th November. The Rocket, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7
  • Helter Skelter Friday 3rd December. The Sanctuary, V7 Saxon Street, Denbigh Leisure, Milton Keynes, Bucks
  • One Nation Saturday 11th December. The Roller Express, Lea Valley Trading Estate, Edmonton, London N18
  • Sex, Love & Motion Every Saturday, The Sounshaft (behind Heaven), Charing Cross, London WC1
  • Dance Elevation Every Friday. The Paradise Club, Parkfield Street, London N1
  • The Box Every Friday. The Bridewell, Lowfield Street, Dartford, Kent
  • The Fruit Club Every Friday. The Brunel Rooms, Havelock Square, Swindon, Wilts
  • Meltdown Every Wednesday from 10th November. 14 – 17 YEAR OLDS. Bumbles night club, 45 Poole Hill, Bournmouth, Dorset

Issue 24 – Ravescene

Ravescene Magazeen #24 (Sep ’92) spotlights Ruff Guidance Recordings and Mel Tanur, charting his path through hardcore and alternative dance. Featuring upcoming releases, jungle-inspired tracks, and essential rave listings, this issue keeps fans plugged into the UK underground scene.

FEATURED ARTICLe – RUFF GUIDANCE RECORDINGS

You have probably never heard of Ruff Guidance Recordings, but I am sure you will be familiar with the music. Mel Tanur, 24, the man behind Ruff Guidance, has taken an active part in the music industry for the past seven years. Starting out as a rap lyricist in 1985, he progressed with former partner Matt Edwards (now Nu-Matic) into making the kind of music that dominates our radios today.

M “We wanted to do an E.P. which contained hip-hop, techno and dance music, to break the existing limits of the music that was being made at that time. Bpm’s shot up in level’s which other people just weren’t doing, we didn’t make anything under 125bpm”.

With the launch of Break The Limits in the late summer of 1990, they established a name for themselves as one of the original hard-core acts. Some 10 E.P.’s later, their hard work paid off, and in December 1991 they were signed to XL Recordings. Unfortunately this didn’t quite work out as Mel had envisioned it, thus causing Mel and Matt to split.

M “XL released the Hard Times E.P. many many weeks later in February 1992, and by that time the tune had fizzled out. As far as I am concerned they made a mess of it. To tell you the truth I didn’t really get on with the people there, all those record company people really don’t appeal to me”.

Leaving the prospect of fame and fortune behind, Mel started up his own company. April 1992 saw his first solo release, simply enetitled “The Ruff Guidance” E.P. The second E.P. (Bay-B-Kane) caused quite a sensation on the hard-core scene, generating interest from DJ Micky Finn, who has included a track from the E.P. on Groove Connections soon to be released compilation/mega mix. Now, with the third E.P. underway, Ruff Guidance’s present venture comes as a bit of a surprise. Released on the 28th Septmeber, the “Icon” E.P. is not only a six tracker, but also includes some unusual elements.

M “I realise I may be taking a risk with this as it is an alternative dance E.P., though it still has that rough jungle feel to it. I have even included some Bolivian Hari-Krishna samples. I think that it is fair to say it’s certainly different’.

So, with all this going on and a soon to be released E.P. which he co-produced with DJ Token Pace on the Face The Bass label as well as current negotiations with none other than Reinforced Records, I can certainly see Mel Tanur being involved in the music biz for the next seven years.

Written by Natasha Donovan

ADVERTS

  • Rave In A Movie – 1000 extras required
  • Sunday Dipped at The Soundshaft
  • Pyramid Promotions presents Innersense @ Lazerdrome
  • Exodos presents Escape To Forever @ Kings Lynn Speedway Stadium
  • Stage One Distribution
  • Destiny @ Jenkins Lane
  • Vinyl Mania Records
  • Hardcore Zone @ Wax City Records
  • Fascination @ The Warehouse, 10th October 1992
  • Raving Mad Designz for Dance Crazy People (Pure Clothing Co.)

RAVE LISTINGS

  • Passion Friday 30th October. The Event. Brighton
  • Fantazia Friday 27th November. Bath and West Showground, Shepton-Mallet
  • The Edge Friday 16th October. The Tasco Warehouse. 138 – 140 Nathan Way Plumstead
  • Knowledge All Nighter Wednesday 28th October. SW 1 Club. London. SW1
  • Living Dream Saturday LOth October. Roller Express, Lea Valley Trading Estate Edmonton, N18
  • Pirate Club And Delirium Saturday 3rd October. Roller Express. Lea Valley Trading Estate. Edmonton. London N18
  • Double Dipped The Birthday Party (Ravescene) Saturday 17th October. Four Aces, 12 Dalston Lane, Hackney, E8
  • Destiny Saturday 1Oth October. Jenkins Lane, Barking, Essex.
  • As New Creation (Xstatic) Friday 6th November. Enstone Airfield, Enstone. Nr. Oxford.
  • Altered States Pt III Saturday 3rd October. Southend United FC. Roots Hall Stadium, Southend
  • Cryptonite Friday 23rd October. Peterborough Arena, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
  • Wisdom Friday 9th October. Nr Dorking, Surrey, Otf A24 Nr Capel
  • Raveword Ravescene The Party Part II. Saturday 24th October The Tasco Warchouse, 138 Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
  • Exodus Friday 9th October. Kings Lynn Speedway Stadium, Saddlebow Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. (off A47)
  • Every Picture Tells A Story Saturday 17th October. The Warehouse, Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
  • Love Fever Garage Weekender. 13/14/15 November. Gt. Yarmouth
  • Fascintation Saturday LOth October, The Tasco Warchouse, 138 – 140 Nathan Way. Plumstead
  • Fusion Friday 23rd October Portsmouth, Guildhall
  • World Dance Saturday 31st October, Lydd Airport, Kent

Issue 19A – Ravescene

Ravescene Magazeen #19A (July 1992) spotlights new label Bombastic Plastic and its debut release by Citadel of Kaos. Featuring UK rave listings, club nights, and a chart with Acen, Urban Hype, and Bombastic Plastic, the issue captures the underground rave scene in full swing.

FEATURED ARTICLE – Bombastic Plastic

‘Keep it underground’ was the parting words of Asides, 1/3 part member of ‘Citadel of Kaos’, the first release for new label Bombastic Plastic which is already creating a nationwide buzz on the strength of 100 test presses alone. We asked Jason, alias Asides, and Jan formerly Sub Terra why Bombastic Plastic was part of this outlook.

‘Things have got to be taken to a more musical point. The guys that are writing the underground stuff are the talented people they are using keyboards while the people these days who are making the money are just using 100% shit samples, that are being twisted or turned. They might sound a bit different but there’s no-one out there writing serious riffs’. Asides continues, ‘the samples have taken over from the music, there needs to be more rhythm, people are just writing what sells’. This is what Bombastic Plastic are reacting against and they herald as their philosophy a distinct sense of value for money. They also aim to keep the financial aspect away from the purity of the music, ‘At the end of the day we just want to get by and survive, do it because you love it’. Although they don’t agree with the high degree of sampling in most Rave/hardcore music (terms they express unease at using and feel the real underground ‘needs no title’) they appreciate the benefit of a sampler if used imaginatively in moderation. The third member Simon, from Earth Leakage Trip, although not present 1s highly acclaimed for his technical ability to construct a sample without the help of a sampler ‘The style of house selling at the moment, Simon could copy and improve that stuff so easily, but he’s just not into it — he’s an originator’. Asides adds amusingly, ‘he’s our secret weapon!’

Judging by the EP, all three possess a wealth of musical talent but what divine inspiration actually fused this alliance into existence? ‘I think we all got together through the problems we’ve had, we’ve ali been knocked — that is why we started up in the first place. You can’t trust anyone out there but we reckon we can tmust each other’. Indeed there has been problems by chance they heard two of their tracks at a pressing plant being pressed up unknowingly by another label, fortunately the situation turned out for the good and a deal was reached with Bombastic Plastic. The name of one of the tracks ‘Space Cakes’ has allegedly been adopted by another well known house outfit and recently a tune destined for Top 40 status used one of Asides samples! But with a possible Fabio remix of the EP and a one track signing to Telstar, they remain optimistic.

‘Out of everything that has happened, it has put this label together. They say something good always comes out of something bad, and we are turning bad things into something positive’.

ADVERTS

  • Fascination – 8th August 1992 @ The Warehouse, 138 – 140 Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
  • JPS Lighting Ltd
  • Core Promotions & Midi Management Lrd present ‘The Prodify’ @ Basildon Festival Hall
  • Shrine presents Sanctuary – Saturday 8th August @ Mallard Park Warehouse, Peterborough
  • Double Dipped – Saturday 15th August @ 12 Dalston Lane, Hackney, London E8
  • Labrynth / 2000 AD Productions present Desire ’92, Saturday 15th August @ The Tasco Warehouse
  • Premier Hardcore Rave Line
  • The Pirate Club, Delirium Promotions & Rave In Peace present Smiley Revival Party @ Roller Express
  • Volatile State – Friday 7th August @ The Tasco Warehouse
  • Bass Box – Sunday 30th August @ Unit H9, Hastingwood Trading Estate, London N18
  • London Laser Company
  • Erotica At Grange Farm – Every Saturday @ High Road, Chigwell, Essex
  • World Dance – Saturday 8th August @ Lydd International Airport, Kent
  • Vinyl Mania Records, 214 Northfields Avenue, London W13
  • Wax City Records, 306 -308 London Road, Croydon
  • PRS Productions present Shock To The System – Saturday 1st August @ The Tasco Warehouse
  • Aquarius – Every Saturday @ The Rocket, 166 – 220 Holloway Road, London N7

RAVE LISTINGS

  • World Dance (World Dance & Bliss) Saturday 8th August. Lydd International Airport, Kent
  • Sweet Sensation (Vibes Alive) Friday 7th August. Hackpen Hill, Marlborough, Wilts
  • Innovation (Vibe Alive) Friday 7th August. The Fitness Centre, Thrale Street, London SE1
  • Infinity Friday 14th August. Aston Villa Sports & Leisure Centre, Birmingham
  • Mashed (Volatile State) Friday 7th August. The Tasco Warehouse, Plumstead, London SE28
  • Spirit Friday 24th July. The Dacorum Pavilion, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead
  • Shock To The System Saturday 1st August. The Warehouse, Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
  • Hardcore Hurricane Friday 24th July. Reading TUC, Chatham St, Reading
  • Tombstone Part II Sunday 26th July. Batchwood Hall, Batchwood Drive, St Albans
  • Reincarnation Saturday 25th July. Kings Hall, Herne Bay, Kent
  • Fantazia Saturday 25th July. Castle Donnington
  • Monkey Island (Pirate Club & Delirium) Saturday 25th July. Roller Express, London N18
  • Summer Dance Fest Friday 7th August. Rectory Farm, Stretton, Leics
  • Awakening Friday 31st July. The Warehouse, Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
  • Phase 1 Saturday 1st August. Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent
  • Pandemonium Friday 8th August. Forton Airfield, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
  • Starlight Friday 21st August. Bingley Hall, Staffs
  • Devotion Saturday 1st August. Basildon Festival Hall, Basildon
  • Shrine’s Sanctuary Warehouse Friday 24th July. Mallard Park, Bretton, Peterborough
  • Fun House Friday 4th & 11th August. Milwaukees, Soul Drop Turn, A6 between Rushden & Bedford
  • Desire ’92 Saturday 15th August. The Warehouse, Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
  • Fascination Saturday 25th July. The Tasco Warehouse, Plumstead, London SE28
  • Double Dipped (Ravescene) Saturday 15th August. Four Aces, 12 Dalston Lane, London E8

CHART

Compiled by Dr S Gachet

  1. Rufidge Cru – Menace (Reinforced)
  2. Bombastic Plastic – Easy Man (Living Dream)
  3. Acen – Trip to the Moon (Production House)
  4. Tim Taylor – The Horn Track (State Side Promo)
  5. Johnny L – Hurt You So (Touchwood)
  6. Urban Hype – I Feel The Heat (Faze 2)
  7. Nebula 2 – The Flatliner Remix (J4M)
  8. C. Biz – The Crowd Say Rewind (Brain)
  9. Body Snatch – Hey! Can’t Explain It (Big City)
  10. Dark Syndicate – Feel The Fire (Rising High)