Sorry for the delay in reviewing, as I was in Disneyland Paris last week, and this week I had to catch up on some work. So now I finally found an hour to review a mix, which has been on my list for a few days. I could not leave it and not act upon it, as it's a mix that is dedicated to my 90s hero 3 Steps Ahead. I grew up listening to his music, and he's been quite influential. Also quirky at the same time, and maybe that's why his music appealed to me, as I was, and still am, quirky. It was music that defined him, and you could tell if something was made by him. He had a sound so unique, and that's one of the reasons why he is still loved by the raving community.
I will be the first to say that he is unique, but not all of his songs were as successful as they should have been. But truth be told, maybe his songs were already futuristic, and we just didn't understand it at the time? But those records that we did understood, we loved and embraced. Sapher, who made this mix, picked 23 3 Steps Ahead records, and there's a nice mixture between the well known, and the more obscure 3 Steps Ahead records.
When it comes to 3 Steps Ahead, I might be a bit more critical, as he is one of my favourite producers ever. His songs have been so inspiring; many decades after their release date and the unfortunate passing of 3SA, they are still played by yours truly. It feels like a warm blanket around me, as they were comforting during the 90s, and in the 20s they are still embracing me, making me feel young again (even though I have aged, like everyone else).
But, at least I can say that the songs in this mix are dope. A nice mixture, and that's what I like to see, and hear.
3 Steps Ahead - The Sexy-Bass Mix
3 Steps Ahead - Gabbers Unite (Long Mix)
3 Steps Ahead - Stravinsky's Bass
3 Steps Ahead - Drop It (Original Mix)
3 Steps Ahead - Money In My Pocket
3 Steps Ahead - I'm A Gabber
3 Steps Ahead - Paint It Black (Extended Mix)
3 Steps Ahead - It's Delicious (Original Mix)
3 Steps Ahead - Hakkûh (Original Mix)
3 Steps Ahead - Trouble
3 Steps Ahead - Thunderscream (Thunder Anthem)
3 Steps Ahead - In The Name Of Love (Original Remastered)
3 Steps Ahead - Crazy
3 Steps Ahead - Put Your Hands Up
3 Steps Ahead - I'm A H.C.M.F. (Original Mix)
3 Steps Ahead - House From Hell
3 Steps Ahead - Fuck The Police
3 Steps Ahead - Midnight Tonight
3 Steps Ahead - Goodtime
3 Steps Ahead - Thunderdome Till We Die
3 Steps Ahead - Strictly Business
3 Steps Ahead - Hardcore
DJ Weirdo & Dr. Phil Omanski - Young Birds (3 Steps Ahead Remix)
Well, this is a very nice looking tracklist. As said, it's got the well known and the lesser known anthems too, including a few weird ones. And of course, 3SA's biggest hits. But which one was his biggest? Was it 'Drop It', or was it 'Paint It Black'? It must be 'Drop It', right?
Sapher's selection is very good. Credit where credit is due. A nice variety of records, all crammed in an hour long mix. And it's got a few of my favourite, maybe even all time favourite Hardcore anthems in it. 'Money In My Pocket, 'Put Your Hands Up', 'Trouble', 'Hakkûh', and 'It's Delicious'. Those immediately take me back to the 90s, when I was much younger, and so dedicated to blow up my eardrums with his music.
It's a nice thing to create, this appreciation mix, but unfortunately it's not 100% error free. There's a few mixing errors, and transition issue that I could not foresee before starting this mix. It doesn't go as smooth as I wanted it to be. This could have been a fantastic mix, but it sadly isn't. I've seen and heard better mixes over the years. Credit for playing a nice mixture of records though.
If you just want to have a glimpse of how life was back in the 90s for me, just press play. But once done, maybe check out 3SA's albums. Or his livesets, which you can find everywhere. But to me, this mix is one I will certainly forget. Which is a pity.
OK, one final note: 'Young Birds' remix by 3SA. Not a great song. It's OK, but nothing can top that original. Maybe that's the worst 3SA song in this mix? What do you think?
DJ: Sapher
Genre/Style: Hardcore, Gabber, Happy Hardcore
Mix Info: 3 Steps Ahead Tribute Hardcore Mix | The Core Of Madness EP200
Length Mix: 01:00:05
Tracks: 23 (twenty-three)
Download/Listen (via Soundcloud): STREAM HERE
File Size: unknown
File Type: unknown
Audio: Stereo
Release Year: 2024
Bit Rate: unknown
More Information: Sapher - Soundcloud Channel
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