“Illegal Rave Tapes” is the first ever wax treatment for Acrelid, courtesy of Dance Data Records. Originally comprised of 134 tracks, this distilled selection by label head Dreams is a snapshot of John Lee Richardson’s archive of music from between 1999-2012.
Since the ripe age of 12, he’s been drawing inspiration from the UK rave scene in the 90’s that he found himself in. That spark was the beginning of a lifelong obsession. He set out to capture the essence of what he felt and saw surrounding him during that time; whether it was via recording loops out of a playstation 1 to cassette / CD or borrowing any other gear he could get his hands on / that people would lend him.
What’s less important than all the gear he used are the sounds he captured with them. Sinister beats that all share a driving quality of rhythm, spanning across smudged influences from jungle to acid and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop transmissions. It’s clear from the tunes that this is someone who’s clocked 1000’s of hours tinkering and refining his sound, and who has squeezed every function out of his machines, just for the fun of it all. Having seldom released music since the 90’s, John’s been waiting for the right moment to share it with the world, and this collection has very much been worth the wait.
Words by Jesse Sappell
***Includes a 16-page colour zine designed by Acrelid, transforming Thatcheraian-era anti-rave news propaganda and 90’s UK culture into incredibly thoughtful lore, providing a never before seen look into the world of the artist behind the Illegal Rave Tapes.**
Since the ripe age of 12, he’s been drawing inspiration from the UK rave scene in the 90’s that he found himself in. That spark was the beginning of a lifelong obsession. He set out to capture the essence of what he felt and saw surrounding him during that time; whether it was via recording loops out of a playstation 1 to cassette / CD or borrowing any other gear he could get his hands on / that people would lend him.
What’s less important than all the gear he used are the sounds he captured with them. Sinister beats that all share a driving quality of rhythm, spanning across smudged influences from jungle to acid and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop transmissions. It’s clear from the tunes that this is someone who’s clocked 1000’s of hours tinkering and refining his sound, and who has squeezed every function out of his machines, just for the fun of it all. Having seldom released music since the 90’s, John’s been waiting for the right moment to share it with the world, and this collection has very much been worth the wait.
Words by Jesse Sappell
***Includes a 16-page colour zine designed by Acrelid, transforming Thatcheraian-era anti-rave news propaganda and 90’s UK culture into incredibly thoughtful lore, providing a never before seen look into the world of the artist behind the Illegal Rave Tapes.**
STAFF COMMENTS
Matt says: This is the dog's bollox people! Igniting a spark in any raver's belly, past or present; John Lee Richardson arrives out of nowhere as a fully formed package of hardcore delight. Sure to give one DJ Absolutely Shit a run for their money, this is fiery, singular, UNDERGROUND heat - the likes of which we don't see very often. Enormous T I P on this one massive!TRACK LISTING
A1. What Is This Thing?
A2. Vebus
A3. Scapegoat
A4. Geiger Counter
B1. Pure Knowledge
B2. The Shakes
B3. The Twilight Zone (Music 2000 Mix)
B4. It's Not A Matter Of Belief
C1. Rave Clubs And Things
C2. Imagery Garden
C3. Cantina Scene
C4. Right There
D1. Inertia
D2. Shape Shifter
D3. Pelt