"The dark side of all human nature"... The Boogie Times Tribe is named for the Boogie Times record shop in Essex that functioned as HQ for Suburban Base Records, and consists of D’Cruze (check out his solo 12"s from the same era) and the very man we have to thank for these reissues; Sub Bass CEO Dan Donnelly himself. While the original “Dark Stranger” is a dead serious slab of ’93 darkcore, please excuse my frankness, but… the remixes are all we really need, and Sub Base do the right thing in repressing the remix 12” instead of the original. First up is the Origin Unknown (Andy C + Liftin’ Spirits) mix of “The Dark Stranger” - for anyone who couldn’t get enough of those dubby synth arpeggios on “Valley Of The Shadows,” hold tight, this one’s for you! We’re reaching for the Johnny Jungle (aka Pascal & Sponge, pretty much a cop-on-sight duo) mix though, which boasts double the ominous atmosphere sliced through with time-stretched flange breakbeat badness. Also includes the Johnny Jungle mix of “Real Hardcore” containing more haunting pads, deep subs and killer breakbeat science. We initially jumped all over DJ Hype’s Roll The Beats and Remarc’s R.I.P. reissues from the same series, but after careful consideration and several rinses, this is definitely the most deadly of the bunch. Recommended.

• clear vinyl pressing
• official repress issued in replica Suburban Bass disco sleeve
• limited edition
• music label: Suburban Bass Records 2017

reviewed by hannibal chew 01/2018