Stereo MC’s tell us about their Top 10 ’90s dance tracks

Stereo MC’s came up through the British club/dance culture of acid house, rave and hip hop, not only with their own group, who gave us such hits as “Connected” and “Step it Up,” but through the label they cofounded, Gee Street, that released records by Jungle Brothers, PM Dawn, and Gravediggaz. With Stereo MC’s playing their first US shows in 24 years this week, group founders Rob Birch and Nick Hallam were nice enough to give us their Top 10 list of favorite ’90s dance tracks.

Their list includes A Guy Called Gerald, LFO, Moodymann, Aphex Twin, Masters at Work, a Prodigy remix of Method Man‘s “Release Yo Self” and more. Check out their picks, and Rob’s commentary for each one, below.

STEREO MC’S – TOP 10 ’90s DANCE TRACKS

A GUY CALLED GERALD — “Finleys Rainbow (Skankin Mix)”
A track from his 1995 LP Black Secret Technology. A Guy Called Gerald is a pioneer in the world of acid house, jungle and techno. What I love about his music is the organic feel and dirtiness of his grooves and the leaning to an afrocentric attitude. I like the high velocity breakbeats and lo fi strings on this tune. Great energy.

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MOODYMANN — “I Can’t Kick This Feeling When It Hits”
From Detroit, Moodymann is an electronic dance musician but he brings as much Sly Stone and Funkadelic to the genre giving his output an off grid feel and non-linear vibe to his grooves. I love this tune for its relentlessly hypnotic qualities that belong in long playing techno/afro/house soundscapes whilst inhabiting a cut up masterpiece of disco breaks.

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METHOD MAN — “Release Yo Self (Prodigy Remix)”
Love Method Man’s flow and attitude and this remix from the Prodigy combines elements of golden age hip hop, Ennio Morricone soundtracks for Sergio Leone’s spaghetti classics, and glimpses of electronics. A proper rugged ride.

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LFO — “Track 4”
A prime example of how the UK was a melting pot and launching pad for new genres of music being forged in the laboratories of house, acid, techno and hip hop in the late 80’s and early ’90s. This tune celebrates the qualities of these forerunners like a gifted wayward child.

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BABY CHAM — “Baby Cham – The Mass (Stink Riddim)”
Also known as “Girls Anthem Riddim” by Dave Kelly, this was my favourite of the multiple releases over this groove. Apart from the tough drums and bass, I love the monk-like chanting and weird atmosphere of the vocal melodies – original vibes. There was period of very strong releases on small Jamaican imprints from this era that you could only get on 7” from specialist shops before mp3’s had really taken a hold. I think the dance floor vibes had a strong impact on electronic dance and popular music.

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DOPE SKILLS (DJ ZINC) – “6 Million Ways”
I guess most people would call this drum&bass but I like the fact it feels like a hip hop, jungle, jazz, electronic journey through evolving charming bass lines and sparse youthful drums anchored to the Method Man/ Redman sample. I think this was when producers figured out their own beats rather than the current wave of artists using sample packs.

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GBEDU RESURRECTION – “Gbedu 1 (Original feat. Kurt Rosenwinkle)”
Featuring Dele Sosimi (keyboardist for Fela Kuti’s Egypt 90) and produced by one of the forerunners of afro-based house music, Joe Claussell. Dance music with the afro beat drums from what was an improvised jam session. Kind of leads up to the present day of Afro House and Amapiano which have become major players and influencers in the modern dance music scene as it struggles free of becoming generic.

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MASTERS AT WORK- “Blood Vibes (Kenny Dope Remix)”
We first heard this in the 4th & Broadway offices of Island Records whilst we were touring in the US. MAW and Kenny Dope have become legends of electronic/house music but this classic cut is the sound of the streets, low slung beats and bass, heavily sampled and Junior Reid’s classic “One Blood” vocal giving the track its purpose and intent.

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APHEX TWIN – “Untitled [SAW2 CD1 Track1] (Four Tet Mix)”
An example of Aphex Twin’s musical experiments with the music box sounds reminiscent of Nannou (B side of Windowlicker) and remix groove from Four Tet, another guy who drinks from many cups. I like the combination of different elements who would normally not share the same environment. Strident broken beats, gentle hammers and flutes and plucks. A magic potion of music.

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THEO PARRISH – “Paradise Architects”
Along with J Dilla, Moodymann and Omar S (all Detroit residents), Theo Parrish makes music within the boundaries but is never governed by them. Distinct and unique, inspired by free form jazz and funk as much as electronic and house music , I like this track for its ability to be a disco record yet be dubbed out, non-conforming to a style and cinematically hypnotic with real organic sounds . Earth music.

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Stereo MC’s will perform on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (1/20) and then play three Northeast shows: Philly’s Union Transfer on January 23, Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg on January 24 with Alex English x Cryostatik, and Boston’s The Sinclair on January 25.