“Inesse” by DJ Mayhem

Moody synths and soulful vocals provide a fascinating contrast to the song’s frenetic breakbeats.

UK hardcore, with its frenetic and brain-scrambling breakbeats, isn’t exactly the type of music one associates with ambience. But as its title implies, Lost Paradise: Blissed Out Breakbeat Hardcore 1991 – 94 features a selection of tracks from the early ’90s that merged breakbeats and atmospherics.

Envisioned as the compilation’s centerpiece, DJ Mayhem’s “Inesse” — which was originally released by Face Records in 1993 — features a barrage of breakbeats that’ll rattle your noggin something good. It sets them, however, against moody synth pads and soulful vocal samples that provide a eerie-yet-fascinating contrast to the song’s rhythms. I imagine “Inesse” caused a stir upon its arrival in the UK rave scene, and it still has the power to turn heads even after 30+ years.

Lost Paradise: Blissed Out Breakbeat Hardcore 1991 – 94 is currently available from Blank Mind.

Enjoy reading Opus? Want to support my writing? Become a subscriber for just $5/month or $50/year.
Subscribe Today
Return to the Opus homepage