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Self Isolation Playlist 1 – Acid House & Friends

Acid House
The smiley face was the Acid House emblem

It’s the most sensible thing to do – stay indoors and not spread COVID-19. This nomenclature for the virus makes it sound like an acid house music playlist/compilation album, or out of area location you shouldn’t go – too close to Area 51 perhaps. But hang on we ain’t foreboding anything – we get to listen to music and HiFi more, regardless of whether you are a ‘music first’ or ‘music last’ Audiophile (or audio lover?). So winner winner chicken dinner.

And what about Acid House? Well it is a sub-genre of house music which sprung from DJ’s in Chicago in the 1980s. In late 80s UK we had Rave culture from this type of music. Amazing to think too that Raves were organised with no mobile phones.

A local hotspot near me was the ‘Braintree Barn’ where acts like Mr C of The Shamen were regulars, so too The Prodigy, where Keith, Leroy and Liam met. Huge talents would play like Carl Cox and Derrick May, reputedly one of the godfathers of the genre. Second Claim to fame by the way – I went to school with Nigel Champion of N-Joi and if you know this genre you will know who they are.

The hedonistic times of the late 80’s with Rave culture and ecstasy use, was massive to the influence of styles like trance, techno and trip-hop which, at least here in the UK, developed while the Britpop era was in full swing. Police even tried to halt Rave’s and all I remember seeing on the news was efforts to do so – The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994) put paid to these aggregations. The idea people could just get in a car and end up in some weird place with little organisation and no health and safety aflictions, was what was liberating about Rave culture. Perhaps my particular generations fix of freedom and youth searching finding oneself.

As Jarvis Cocker said on Pulp’s mid 90’s Different Class Album, on the track Sorted For E’s & Wizz….. “I can never come home again cause I seem to have left an important part of my brain somewhere, somewhere in a field in Hampshire”. That was what Acid House was about and the drug culture it fuelled.

The Scientist – The Exorcist

It was too encapsulated by the voiceover with the track Stella on Ultramarine’s 1991 album Every Man and Woman is a Star ; “For me I had to dance, I had to relieve myself of the whole of western culture”. Acid House was a conduit for that. We’d now call it mindfulness in these liberal times – doing something to take your mind off everyday struggles basically – even though the minds of many Ravers were perhaps anything but, well, in their minds! 😉

Acid House – sometimes a bit lacking in any melody and musical structure by lots of standards, sure…. You get an awful lot of thrashy Acid House music, badly written. An excuse for the genre and fronting commerciality, but as dance music done well, it has mesmerising tunes and riffs. It’s music that stays in your head for generations. It has in mine!

So stay indoors, stay safe and enjoy music. Click here for the Tidal Playlist. Click here for the Qobuz Playlist.

Not a streaming subscriber – here is some ‘snapshots’ of the tracks;

Self Isolation Playlist 1 – Acid House & Friends

  1. String of Life – Derrick May
  2. Your Love – The Prodigy
  3. Go (Radio Edit) – Moby
  4. Anthem – N-Joi
  5. Sunspot – Moby
  6. Give me a Sign – Index
  7. Sweet Sensation – Shades of Rhythm
  8. Edge Hill – Groove Armada
  9. Move Any Mountain (Beat Edit) – The Shamen
  10. Skyclad – Ultramarine
  11. Move Your Body – Xpansions
  12. Pacific 202 – 808 State
  13. Your Love – Frankie Knuckles
  14. LFO – LFO
  15. Fire (Sunrise Version) – The Prodigy
  16. Dark & Long – Underworld
  17. Ionospheric State – Children Of The Bong
  18. Let the Music Use You – The Nightwriters
  19. 3 Kilos – The Prodigy
  20. Hear Me – The Shamen
  21. French Kiss – Lil’ Louis
  22. Dance – Soul II Soul
  23. Can You Feel It – Mr Fingers
  24. The Sun Rising – The Beloved
  25. Franky Bones – Just as Long as I got You
  26. It’s Alright – Sterling Void
  27. Jomanda – Make My Body Rock

Check out other playlists here (hit the hash tag at bottom of the page- #music playlist)

Acid House Music Playlist
Acid House Music Playlist

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Written by Simon Price

I'm music lover who shares experiences of faithfully reproduced audio in an ENGAGING way with HIGH VIDEO PRODUCTION VALUES. I enjoy and make reviews as I love audio gadgets, being a voice on audio and producing creative videos that ultimately benefit the industry and new participation. I keep technicalities easy, as I believe great audio serves music and music is inclusive and to be enjoyed by all!

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