When it comes to DJ’ing Carl Cox has to be one of the biggest names in the world. He’s been an innovator since the start of the early rave scene. And even today the man is still rocking crowds and pushing the boundaries of DJ’ing.
Throughout the 1990s Cox played house, hardcore, techno and trance. And regardless of the type of music he was playing many regard his sets as some of the best of the time. And to this day he’s one of the few DJ’s who’ll jump genres and play sets of other types of music – and do it well.
Between 1991 and 1995 Carl Cox’s DJ sets were going through a metamorphosis. During the early part of his career, Cox was famous for playing fast and tougher music, such as early hardcore and breakbeat. But even by 1995, he had made the switch to playing full-on techno and hard trance. Later releasing seminal mix albums like F.A.C.T & F.A.C.T 2 which helped to push techno and hard trance into the mainstream.
But in this listicle, we’re going to look at some of the records which the great man played before he switched to the techno sound that he’s now famous for.
This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list. Obviously, he played many more records during the 90s than these 10, but this guide does give you an idea of the sort of music he was playing during those early years.
Table of Contents
10 records Carl Cox played between 90-95
1. Rhythm Section – Atomic 1991
There’s quite a collaboration on this track when you look at who made it. Two out of the four producers listed on the credits are Ellis Dee and Rennie Pilgrem.
This is a classic breakbeat hardcore tune; you can hear that Ellis Dee sound in this track.
If you listen closely, you can hear that the beat was sampled from NWA’s – Straight Out of Compton. And I think there’s a John Craven sample in the record too.
2. DJ Carl Cox – I Want You (Forever) (Full on mix 1991)
Probably the best record Carl Cox produced before his techno and trance days. And it’s a tune that has aged well.
I’m writing this article in 2021, and in the last year I’ve heard BBC6’s Steve La Mac play this track 3 times in the last 12 months on his midweek show. I think it’s a testament to how good of a track it is.
The tune itself is kind of like a cross over house and rave. It’s neither purely one nor the other. But at the time this record was released when dance music was still mutating and morphing into its various subgenres.
Highlights of this record are the low-key start to this tune – which just starts like a run of the mill techno tune – but it’s ripped apart with the hoovered break down and harsh synth stabs.
Quality tune and a fine example of what constitutes a good hardcore record of the time.
3. TronikHouse – Mental Techno 1991
Tronikhouse is another moniker for techno legend Kevin Saunderson. Saunderson was involved in various dance music outfits through the 90s, the most famous being Inner City.
With TronikHouse, Saunderson produced more Belgian and hard sounding techno, rather than the Detroit sound which he’s famous for.
This is a great record. You can hear the bleep warehouse sound in the background. And the rest of the record is peppered with harsh and out of tune hoover sounds.
The single Mental Techno can be found on the Hardcore Techno EP, and every track on that release is worth checking out.
4. Zero B – Lock Up 1991
This record needs no introductions. It’s probably one of the biggest tunes of 1991. A record that got played at hardcore, techno and house nights alike. A true rave classic!
The tune has a mental breakbeat and sprinkled into the mix are those catchy synth stabs. And all this is blended in with those crazy siren sounds – which make you feel like you are at a warehouse party with people blaring air horns behind you.
This is another tune that sounds as good today as it did when it came out. It’s a track that still tears dancefloors apart. And it’s a record that wouldn’t be amiss in a modern breakbeat set.
Additionally, Lock Up is found on the Module EP, and every track on that release is cracking. Well worth checking out. And an essential EP for any DJ or collector of rave records.
5. World Dominance – Compression 1992
This is a belting hardcore track from 1992. Copies of this record now are fetching over £100 on Discogs.
The astute old school music fan will probably hear the Amen Break sample which has been used for the beat. This tune is pretty much full of all the stereotypical sounds from 1992: hoover riffs, deep bass and random ‘ardcore sounds.
One surprising fact was that this record was released on the US label PowerTraxx records. It wasn’t a tune made in the UK. And the inner record label also has a shout out to Carl Cox.
6. Way Out West – Montana (Let Yourself Go) 1994
This record was Way Out West’s second commercial release. Way Out West (Jody Wisternoff & Nick Warren) were always more widely known for their excellent progressive dance tunes. In fact, in the same year they released this track they released the prog anthem Ajare on Deconstruction records.
This mix of mine features Ajare, click here if you’d like to download an mp3 copy.
With Montana you can hear distant traces of Way Out West’s more familiar prog sound, elements of this are hiding in the track. Aside from this, the track is a great upbeat house record.
7. Strategy & DJ Freshtrax – The Dreamaster 1992
Classic breakbeat hardcore piano track. The sort of record which was popular at the hardcore nights like the Eclipse, Bowlers and Helter Skelter.
This is another rave record that uses the “Winstons – Amen, Brother” beat.
Not much else to say about this record, apart from it’s typical of that hardcore sound that was coming out at the time. It was released before hardcore split into all its various subgenres like Jungle, Happy Hardcore, Jungle Techno, etc.
8. MK 13 – Sensory Deception Remix 1991
This is an excellent early bleepy hardcore techno track. A record that wouldn’t sound out of place at a techno club or a warehouse party.
Throbbing deep bassline, lovely vocal hooks, growling synths, scattered stabs, and a tough breakbeat drum sample makes this a stand-up record. A record that still sounds good today.
9. Holy Noise – Get Down Everybody 1991
Holy Noise – Get Down Everybody was released as an EP, and what an EP! Every track is a Belgian techno smasher.
The EP was released on HitHouse records who produced a lot of classic Belgian techno anthems during the 1990s. However, I’d say that the Holy Noise EP is one of the labels finest releases.
This track has a hard and unforgiving beat, tight solid bass, uplifting sweeps, crowds cheering in the background and uplifting breakdowns – you can see why it was a popular track, and a record that was caned everywhere.
10. M.A.N.I.C. – Party People (’94 Remix)
This is a Euro house anthem produced by M.A.N.I.C. This sort of record is typical of Carl Cox around this 93-94 period, he was playing lots of euro-dance which he’d mix with Belgian Techno and early hard house.
But during this time you can start to hear the more serious techno sound creeping into his mixes. Only a year after he was playing tunes like this Coxy released FACT, which was a big departure from the breakbeat piano, Belgian Techno and Euro Dance sound of his earlier years.
M.A.N.I.C produced some great tracks during the early 90s. Party People is one of the lesser-known ones, but it’s a popular house track that still gets played today. Their most famous tune was the northern piano anthem “I’m Comin’ Hardcore”.
Conclusion
That concludes my list of 10 records that Carl Cox played during 1990 – 1995. As you can see his sound evolved quite a bit during the first part of the 90s. And if you only started listening to him after this period you might be unaware he used to play the types of music in this article.
One thing about Coxy is regardless of the type of music he was playing, he always gave it his all. And I don’t think I’ve ever heard an early set by him which isn’t bursting with energy. He was one of the best DJ’s then, and he’s certainly one of the best DJ now.
Keep on scratching.
DJ Kippax