aaamusic | On 21, Sep 2010

Salvo – Union Square Music’s collector’s label – announces the definitive, deluxe edition of one of the rave era’s definitive albums, Shades of Rhythm’s eponymous début, on the eve of its 20th anniversary.

In the “golden age of hardcore,” Shades of Rhythm were as at home headlining genre-defining raves as they were in the Top Of The Pops studio. The singles included here – The Sound of Eden, Sweet Sensation, Homicide/Exorcist and the top 20 hit Extacy – are bona fide gems of the bygone era of a happy face, thumping bass and loving race. C/D/2 adds a stack of unreleased and hard-to-find tracks and promos, legendary in the history books of old school DJs.

Live, the band were a force to be reckoned with and headlined every major rave of the era – Technodrome, Fantazia, Raindance, Sunrise, Amnesia House – with audiences often topping 10,000. In demand as remixers, they’ve delivered the goods for everything from N-Trance‘s Set you Free to Si Begg’s 2009 The Bleeps. Returning the favour, this new release features X-Press 2 and Joey Negro remixing Shades of Rhythm. So go back to the old school… Shades of Rhythm-style:

Live at 1991’s legendary Technodrome rave:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAmVwtToLyE

Sound of Eden (00’s remake by Another Chance):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UhLvEUt-YE

The Sound of Eden (original):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_15dBrxOVME

Extacy (on Top of the Pops):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDAKwIqzgPM

808 State DJing S/O/R’s Exorcist at Wickerman 2010:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz36dhF2ivI

Extacy Edition trailer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-dffl3NBHQ

To quote Judge Jules in his specially-written introduction for this reissue, “After being the exclusive domain of Chicago-based house merchants and some early Italo-house producers, Peterborough’s Shades of Rhythm were arguably the first UK act to truly cement their place in the record boxes of global dance DJs. They were an ‘act’ in the conventional rock ‘n’ roll sense. As adept on stage as in the studio, it was no surprise when they were welcomed into the big league, signing to Trevor Horn’s ZTT Records.”