Josh Wink - Fusion
Side A - 45:51, 83.9 MB
Side B - 46:09, 84.5 MB
256kbps, 44.1kHz stereo
Perceived peak normalized, treble boosted
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!
Categories: 90 Minute Tape, Everything, Techno, Techno - Acid, Techno - Driving, Techno - Minimal, Techno - Tribal, 1996 |
Hey! Where’s my mention
Didn’t you take me to this rave? I remember Josh Wink handed me a CD and you were amazed that I didn’t recognize him. Ahhh, good times 
That was another party, but I should have mentioned it in this article!
I met my good friend Corina, above, on the TV Ontario website in the mid 90’s (where I had my first internet email address for $20/year) and we agreed to check out a rave together starring my very most favourite DJ, Josh Wink. I drove up to her parents’ house to collect the cash and met her face-to-face for the first time. I got tickets for her, myself, and some of her friends, and a couple of weeks later we went to The Warehouse where he was playing.
Corina had the incredible privilege of being handed The Ovum Sampler, a CD with some of Josh Wink’s Ovum label singles, plus a cool sticker. No such love for me, his greatest fan, but I picked up the disc shortly after for $11 or so.
Josh rocked the house. He played so many styles.. house, techno, trance, breezy drum and bass, and his set was quite long. I think it was me who pooped on the party and got sleepy midway through so I drove everyone home.
I didn’t see the whole set, and I didn’t get a CD, but one of Corina’s friends left a HUGE bag of Skittles in my glove compartment. Score!!!
Haha, thank goodness you got all the hilights in there Brian
TVO BBSing since 1994, oh yeah!.
Just to clarify, I actually went with you and none of my friends - pretty crazy of me, but then that’s how we mid-90s ravers roll! Ovum, yes you’re exactly right, and those were Joanna’s Skittles goddamnit! But she didn’t come to the Rave so poo on her. Ah memories…
Next, you should find some Destiny memories to share
I think you’re right - I’m getting my nights confused. Maybe it was my friend Joel who accompanied us that night.
As for Destiny, I don’t think I bought any tapes at any of their parties or Fridays so I shan’t be disclosing my gory details of gluttonous galavanting.
what an excellent mix this is what acid is all about!!!!
I was at that party! I was in a daze for a week after that, from Wink’s set. He spun a bit of everything and made it all work together, there were even a few drum n bass tracks sprinkled in. Mindblowing! I remember being a bit tired when his set started, (it was a later one, like 4am) but being totally energized!
Danny, couldn’t have said it better myself!
Jamie, you’re absolutely right! He did indeed play a huge variety of tracks including some of his signature light and airy D&B. That was a really innovative and risky thing to do in the late 90s.
hi man,
this “fusion”-tape as you call it is better known as “boxed” (official release name). side a of “fusion” is side b of “boxed” and vice versa.
but hey, thank you in the name of the entire planet for this website!
greetings from germany,
phu2
Danke schoen for writing, Phu2. I always suspected my copy wasn’t legit because I could never find any mention of “Fusion” in Josh Wink’s discographies or even on bootleg websites. Thanks for clearing it up.
Your site has some very cool links and resources! I’m going to check out your blog right now!
hi brian,
my blog probably only entertains you, if you understand some german… hm! right?
i’m gonna check out some more tapes now… miammi!
i am just writing a new blog post and i will put a tiny greeting in it! 
greetz from obergrombach,
phu2
I hardly speak a word of German but still found some fun stuff on your blog. I really loved that Commodore 64 music documentary and I blogged about it after watching it. (http://blog.demodulated.com/2008/10/28/the-8bit-philosophy/)
It’s always cool to share interests with likeminded people. Glad you stopped by!