It is Saturday, and it doesn't really matter. It's another day within the second lockdown period, so nothing much is happening around the world. Here in London it's kind of boring. It's a new level of non existing excitement. Or should I say a new low? The internet is the only thing that can bind us all together, and it can connect people from all over the world. And sometimes it's necessary, like the other day when my nan died, and we had to watch her funeral during a livestream. It's odd, I know, but at least we are 'there'. We can still be linked to one and another during this COVID period.
But gabbers, they were always connected. At raves during the 90s and early 2000s they were the biggest friends club in the whole universe. There's wasn't much hatred or anger, we all danced throughout the night. Yes, we might have looked a tad odd with our track suits and bald heads, but we couldn't care less: this was our thing. And at the centre of this all, was the music. And even to this day we hold it close to our hearts: it's as dear to us as air is to other humans. We embrace the early sound, and play it until our final breath. Hardcore 4 Life. That's our motto.
Now, I only found this mix a few hours ago, but I had to check it out. It's a mix made by Funky Frank. I do not know anything about this DJ, but what I do know is that he used a shit ton of classic anthems. And when I say classics, I do mean classics. You would probably find the same songs on your standard, run of the mill, top 40 Hardcore CD. You know, those CDs that are only made to get money out of your pocket, nothing much. Those 'special' CDs that everyone already has, but still buys, to add to their collection.
If you were around during the 90s and you were a gabber/raver, you will enjoy this tracklist. You certainly will!
The Horrorist - Flesh Is The Fever
Public Energy - Three_O_Three
The Dark Raver & DJ Vince - Thunderground
Robert Armani - Hit Hard
Miro - Shining
E-Man - Bass Machine
Razzle Dazzle Trax - Rattlebrain (DJ Isaac's Overdrive Remix)
DJ Isaac & DJ The Viper - Fun-ky Beats
The Dark Raver & DJ Vince - Intelligent Hardcore
Dr. Macabre - Poltergeist
Digital Boy - OK, Alright
Forze DJ Team - '98 To Piano
Dominium - Let Your Mind
DJ Isaac - Freak That Shit
DJ Isaac & DJ The Viper - Trigga Finga
Rave Creator - Atmos-Fear
Buzz Fuzz - King Of The Beats
Jones & Stephenson - The First Rebirth
Pilldriver - Pitch Hiker
Neophyte - Braincracking
Dune - Hardcore Vibes
Stingray & Sonicdriver - As Cold As Ice
The Highlander - Hold Me Now
Bertocucci Feranzano - XTC Love
Hardsequencer - Braincrash
Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo - Wonderful Days (Rotterdam Mix)
Critical Mass - Burnin' Love (DJ Weirdo & DJ Sim 173.683 Remix)
Rave Nation - Going Crazy
DJ Isaac - Bad Dreams
The Prophet - Big Boys Don't Cry
Masoko Solo - Pessa Pessa
Buzz Fuzz - Frequencies
DJ Weirdo & Dr. Phil Omanski - Young Birds
Lenny Dee - The Dreamer
Wayward - Hardcore Hijacked Me
Chosen Few - Chosen Paradise
Promo - Shut Up!
3 Steps Ahead - Drop It
Diss Reaction - Jieehaaa
DJ Jappo & Lancinhouse - EXLXAXL
BONUS TRACK
You might agree or disagree, but Funky Frank's selection is a good one. Yes, some do not fall technically under the early Hardcore tag, but more like Happy Hardcore, and some listeners do find that annoying, but it was still part of the early 90s. Love or hate it, even those cheesy tunes were part of this culture at one stage, and featured on many Hardcore compilations.
The last track, which is a bonus track, is obviously the biggest top 40 hit for any Hardcore anthem, and you will immediately know which song I am talking about.
I do like Frank's selection. Immediately I felt a few years younger, and high on life. So damn Hardcore I was back then. It is funny, but yet I am still Hardcore. Might be a tad podgier but Hardcore music still runs through my veins. I might not be able to do the specific dance for hours, but 10 mins of Hakkuh is still sufficient enough to show the young kids how to do it.
So the tracklist is good, but is the mix good? Yes and no. The tracks are good, but there are a shit ton of mixing errors here. And I do mean a lot. You would maybe expect to hear them on a dodgy cassette from the early 90s, but not in the 2020s. I know Funky Frank was eager to make this mix, but it's not a flawless mix. That's a shame though.
Maybe worth checking this mix out, if you want to feel slightly nostalgic. You might need to sieve through the errors. But if you want to do that, you might like this mix more than I do at the moment.
DJ: Funky Frank
Genre/Style: Hardcore, Gabber, Early Hardcore, Happy Hardcore
Mix Info: Early Hardcore Top 40 (The Very Best Early Hardcore Songs Ever)
Length Mix: 01:51:15
Tracks: 40 (fourty) + 1 Bonus Track
Download/Listen (via Soundcloud): LISTEN HERE
File Size: unknown
File Type: unknown
Release Year: 2020
Audio: Stereo
Sample Rate: unknown
More Information: Funky Frank - Soundcloud Page