10 Tracks Of Acid – Jerome Hill

This was the first Acid tune that jumped out at me… Ever.. First heard it on Fantasy FM in about 1989/1990 and it remains to this day a really amazing record that occupies that psychotic spot between New Beat, Acid House and Techno. Acid in 3D. Beast!!

One of those Scary tracks that’s on a par with Bam Bam’s Where’s your child, although not nearly as well known. This one is so messed up and really evokes some evil spirits while listening!

Another one that successfully evades genre classification, this one has it all, drawing influences from the UK Hardcore movement of the time and gets extra points for creative use of the vocal sample. A classic!

One of the all time greats and definitely one of my favourites. A testament to how with the right idea, a tune can run on acid alone ! So simple but so perfect. The groove is infectious. Another that me and my friends were introduced to listening to Fantasy FM.. Before we knew the name, we used to call it the ‘Acid rain’ track as it really does sound like its just pouring down!! Bobby Konders is, and has been for a long time now, a successful New York Dancehall producer.

This one holds a special place in my heart. A smoky strobe lit early mid nineties part of my brain that never ‘came down’. It’s always a tough call between this and the other side of the 12″; ‘Lock On Target’ two Acid tunes, that couldn’t be more different in their direction but both rank ultra highly in achieving their desired effects! Oliver Chesler (The Horrorist) and John Selway in a past life, running riot on a label that would change Hardcore forever and is still run as it was then, by one of the original late 80’s pioneers, Lenny Dee.

I was gonna choose the original by 808 State which many would argue is the most forward thinking Acid House track that the UK provided back in it’s late 80’s hey day. Then I realised that would leave this list unfairly 80’s heavy so i’ve chosen this instead, a psychotically great piece of music in it’s own right that borrows a couple of riffs from the original and takes it out in every conceivable direction. A masterpiece in my opinion.

This one’s a bit of an obscure one, lurking only on a 1991 Planet Core compilation alongside loads of Mover stuff.. Just balls out caustic acid over tough distorted 909 drums. Nothing clever in particular, and it can be argued that tracks like this are all too common and can be found over and over on many labels, but I don’t care – this one’s a beast and in 1991, this was a sound that was in it’s absolute infancy and this is a great example of ‘that’ sound. Of this 3 man crew, 2 went on to form highly influencial ‘minimal’ label Klang Electronik and the third was one WJ Henze who if you were buying hardish techno in the 90’s or 2000’s, chances are you will have at least one record by him under one of his millions of alias’.

Electro (and Acid) gurus Ed DMX and Bass Junkie join forces on this one for a proper modern acid house classic. It’s all about the little details here, the miniscule swells in the background, the intricacy of the modulation on the 303.. The vocals suit perfectly and all in all it’s just a wicked track, from two top producers… Plus you even get a brilliant Matt Whitehead Remix on the other side. And in case you’re unfamiliar with “I Love Acid” check out the label. each release limited to 303 copies “with no represses or digital. Ever” and look out for their London warehouse party in February with DJ Pierre and Luke Vibert!

I couldn’t do an Acid list in 2014 without at least one track by Jared Wilson.. There are so many to choose from. Paris Massacre, This Love, Drug Related Stories, the list goes on… But this one remains in a class all of its own. Just stunning.

Had to include a Ceephax, as someone who’s been repping the silver box and squeezing every last drip from it playing totally insane live shows for years and years. This one is bonkers – an acid cover version of JS Bach’s ‘Prelude in C major’. Ok, maybe it’s been done from a midi file rather than programming the whole thing from scratch (??I’d love to know) but still – IT WORKS. I love finishing an end of the night set with this one. Adds a bit of class to proceedings, know what i mean Rodders!