Download Side B – 30:14, 55.3 MB

256kbps, 44.1kHz stereo

Stereo rebalanced, normalized, treble boosted

Preview

This is a white label tape simply labelled “Clarkee”. The case lists “1996″ on the spine of the J-card.

It’s primarily chugging hardcore with percussive progressive minimalist techno-style arrangements, with some acidcore and bleepy little melodies thrown in for good measure. The 4/4 is pretty dependable throughout, punctuated by distorted 909s. If the audio range weren’t so full I’d suspect nearly the entire mix was comprised of hard techno tracks pitched up to 45.

There is a certain je-ne-sais-quois about this mix that really makes it stand out. It’s not just any hardcore mix. The regularity and monotony of the beats and patterns might be a turn-off for some, but I find myself really losing myself in the rhythm as I listen. The sound is really unconventional and relentless, almost like the caffeinated love child of Hardfloor and Robert Hood.

This is one of very few Clarkee mixes I’ve heard, but it’s enough for me to call him one of my favourite hardcore DJs of all time. I just love the direction he takes. It has a great mood and doesn’t fear to stomp all over uncharted territory. Definitely one of my favourite mixes.

Please leave a comment to tell me whether you enjoy this mix!

Download Side B – 46:09, 84.5 MB

256kbps, 44.1kHz stereo

Perceived peak normalized, treble boosted

Preview

This tape is extra special because it’s the first one I ever bought! I picked this mix up from the second rave I ever attended – a Citrus party if memory serves. I remember taking exception to paying $10 or $15 for what looked like an obvious dub job in a black and white photocopied case, but at the time and for many years afterward Josh Wink was my favourite DJ and my hero, really, so it was a lucky find.

This mix is a bit unconventional as it is a very minimal and groovy arrangement as opposed to a series of songs. Wink starts out with some driving, growly tracks that set a 4:00am-bass-shaking-an-old-warehouse kind of mood, showcasing some really dark and brooding themes. He then opens up a little, introducing some brighter, poppier grooves that lighten the mood but keep up the pace. He closes out with more melodic and tribal sounds which seem to be introduced to take advantage of your fatigue from the unrelenting moods and rhythms, intoxicating you with head-swimming chord progressions, hip-shaking congas, and bubbly acid lines. It’s a real journey that carries you through in barely perceptible steps which is a sign of a very focused and well-practised DJ with a story to tell.

Fans of Josh Wink will recognize his style permeating every song here; so much so that I suspect many of the tracks are his own white labels. Wink is known as quite a tactician of percussion and rhythm and his characteristic open hi-hats, off-beat snares, punchy kicks, and mod wheel tomfoolery are on full display.

You can almost picture Josh straddling the border between house and techno, dangling his dreadlocks on either side. The elements of repetition and monotony of techno are interposed with the melodies and swing of house. I’d heard his singles like Higher State of Consciousness and I Am Ready and his Left Above The Clouds album, but this mixtape revealed to me what I felt was the REAL Josh Wink – something he accomplished in an hour and a half instead of over months. I respected him all the more for it.

This mix is so great that I have to curb myself from yammering on about it. I’ll close with a heads-up to listen out for his great mixing (minimal techno has few reference points so it takes a steady mind to keep the 4/4 straight) and for the two very different and well-implemented remixes of Don’t Laugh. Enjoy, and please leave a comment to tell me how you like this mix!

Download Side B – 29:37, 54.2 MB

256kbps, 44.1kHz stereo

Preview

This was my second rave tape, given to me by Will in high school. It’s a promo tape that was given away with pre-ordered tickets to the Utopia rave in Toronto in May of 1996. The flyer was super awesome, depicting an enormous eyeball towering over a Utopia logo. This was supposed to be my first rave but my friends chickened out, so we didn’t attend one until Destiny 16 in October of the same year.

This tape is really neat and I’m not sure how it’s mixed – four-tracked, maybe? The liner notes list many DJs which would leave me to believe that it’s just songs composed by the headliner artists, but side B features an overdubbed intro sample for Nicky Blackmarket and later an MC props up Darren Jay so I’m not sure.

Oh, did I neglect to mention that side A is techno and trance while side B is oldskool jump-up and ragga jungle? An odd combination indeed, but I imagine it summed up the party proceedings thoroughly.

On side A the opening is the song that thankfully introduced me to Bjork, and the song coming in at 21:00 has that overbaked TB303 that melts my mind. Side B has some of the choicest cuts of some big jungle anthems that I’ve never heard anywhere else. I especially love this mix of Jungalist.

Enjoy, share, and leave a comment!