Yoko's Hardtrance and Rave Sleeper Hits

As a DJ with 25 years of ongoing passion for the craft and a special fondness for the 90s oldschool sounds, Yoko has collected lots of vinyl from the "good old days".
Here, he shares 10 tracks from that era which he thinks often go unnoticed, especially when at retro events today the DJs mostly keep playing the well-known tunes from back then.

Since Yoko always wants to keep tracks like these from being forgotten, he regularly streams live mixes on his channels where he aims to repeat tracks as little as possible! Make sure to check out his "Oldschool Mixfest" series if you're into this style (and don't mind German chat & voiceovers).

Links:

Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/YokoInTheMix
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/YokoInTheMix
Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/YokoInTheMix

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1. Univers - Univers ["Dance Division Vol. 12" // Pink Records // Spain 1995]

Relentlessly forward-pounding Hard-Trancer on one of Spain's best "not-so-Makina" labels, with an awesome melody and high energy vocal sample on top. And as with many of these tunes, works even better when pitched up a few percent!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C-4bNY7OgI

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2. Elemental Space - Called You (Roughage Remix) ["Stronglimited" // Time Unlimited // Germany 1993]

Similarly full of energy with both awesome arpeggio buildup and lead synth melody, plus typical early 90s "dark bass & drums" arrangement. Imagine a strobe-filled but otherwise dimly-lit dancefloor and you're off to rave heaven!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPOLyNNUPlk

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3. Polyphonic - Mamy (Virus Mix) [Do It Yourself // Italy 1996]

Italian Hard-Trance is usually more filled with angelic choir sample based melodies, but this track just goes full throttle with a nasty synth line and distorted Acid goodness on top – delicious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZdQ2m9bJTU

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4. M - Das Wunder (Club Mix) ["Running (The Future Is Now!) (Special Mix)" // Blow Up // Germany 1995]

Hidden away on the B-side of an (also nice, but slower) Trope Remix of a Vocal Hard-Trance/Euro-Rave tune is this masterpiece of 170 BPM Hard-Trance. You don't expect it from the way the tune starts rather, let's say "level headed" with just some nice drum work and occasional synth stab, but when the main part comes in, you're guaranteed to start jumping!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lG_aDwVBAs

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5. DJ Rope & DJ Marco Bailey - Be Free (Wavesong Mix) ["Spice" // Dance Opera // Belgium 1994]

Another B-side surprise! This one comes as close to the perfect hypnotic rave melody as it gets, and even though it does work at its original speed, try cranking your turntable up to the max and you're gonna lose your shit to this banger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqqyPcD2m5Y

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6. Unknown Structure - Music For The Brain (Remix) [Frankfurt Beat Productions // Germany 1994]

The perfect starter track for a set filled with 90s high-energy Hard-Trance & Rave! You get about a minute of preparation and moody intro vibes, until the main synth starts taking you on a journey you'll never forget. Another breather around 3:30 mins and then you're granted a second ride through this amazing buildup of sounds! "Sound of Frankfurt" at it's finest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S14CjzUWEc

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7. Mental Glue - Accuphase [OverOut // Germany 1995]

Starts off already hard with great kickdrum & Acid combo which on it's own already get your heart pumping. But then the break introduces an amazing uplifting melody as counterpoint to the first part that works just perfect. This is the type of "hard-but-still-melodical" tune that could only be made in the 90s!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7asuM5hGjs

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8. Secret Alloy - Mon-Ka ["Second Chapter EP" // Pedo Beat Records // Germany 1995]

And yet another B-side sleeper hit. Good buildup, then everything gets stripped down and you wonder if this track goes anywhere – but you'll soon be rewarded for your patience! The melody is a perfect example of "simple makes it memorable", only 3 notes but used expertly, and with a nice piercing synth sound to drive it into your brain while raving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvx2HcrVaCc

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9. M-Modulator - Boff ["Sour Lips EP" // Ugly Frog Productions // Germany 1996]

If you ever wanted to drift off into Acid-Hard-Trance hypnosis for almost 8 minutes, then this tune is for you. Just enough variation of the sounds, underpinned with a repetitive "flickering" sound loop to keep you in trance the whole time, almost invites you to just play this track on repeat in the background to keep you energized and hypnotized for as long as you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X89NrmIY9U

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10. Fiocco - Sordo ["Afflitto" // Outline // Belgium 1997]

This might be the most surprising B-side bomb of them all...! The main track on this release would later be made famous in cooperation with Kosmonova (renamed to "Celebrate"), and who would expect a fast Hard-Trance/Rave tune on such a slower "clubsound of the late 90s" release? There's also only one pressing where this particular track even exists, but taking this stark contrast of styles into account it's not that surprising. Just take my word for it, and check this 175 BPM banger out. But don't complain if your legs hurt after bouncing to this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js5_ioDx__Q