Nostalgia seems to be the word of the month, with so many reissues, best of compilations, and mixed discs harking back to “the good old days’… Justin Robertson used to be one of the worlds biggest DJ’ in the 90′, but its not a name I have heard for a long time, until this double CD arrived on my doorstep. It seemed fitting for me to review this, as I’m currently reading the rather good “Energy Flash‘ by Simon Reynolds, where he goes into great detail about the first wave of Acid House, and how this has influenced most of dance culture since. On a personal level, ’88 was the year I discovered Acid House, and immersed myself in the Horden Pavilion parties of the late 80′ and early 90′. I remember the impact the music had on me, mostly unknown, faceless tracks that forced you to dance all night, feeling part of something new and exciting, and inevitably inspiring me to become a DJ also. Acid House happened two decades ago this summer, so it’s a fitting time to release this compilation.
Now, I may be showing my age, but its nice to be nostalgic, especially about a time in ones life that had such a profound effect. Justin Robertson does more than get nostalgic, seamlessly assembling the first disc in a mixed CD format, selecting some very fine Acid Trax of yesteryear, as you expect, the top names in the game are all here, Phuture, Fast Eddie, Rhythim Is Rhythim, Unique 3, R Tyme, Pierre’ Pfantasy Club, Frankie Knuckles, Mr Fingers, Farley, to name just a few. Justin Robertson hasn’ just limited himself to selection “pure’ Acid House, he has deviated slightly, picking from Detroit Techno (Mayday, Rhythim Is Rhythim) and UK Electro (Renegade Soundwave), but this was the norm at the time, mixing many elements of the emerging House Music, but it is era specific, and for anyone that was around back then, puts you right back to huge soundsystems playing to thousands of sweaty bodies.
The second disc contains re-edits of classics, given the up dated treatment from such luminaries as 808 State, Ashley Beedle, Boys Noize, Rub n Tug, Plump DJ’, Graeme Park, Basement Jaxx and Justin Robertson himself. While some of these tracks don’ really require the remix treatment, most of the above artists have chosen not to alter the originals drastically, remembering their roots, and respecting the originals.
For anyone who was there for the birth of Acid House, you will love this journey down memory lane, and for anyone remotely interested in dance music, this brings together some important innovators and originators onto a great compilation on the much respected Harmless label. www.harmlessrecordings.co.uk
Wayne Stronell
