He Said She Said with Mark Dynamix

It really came about because I’d recently been shuffling through my vinyl archive, pulling out gems that I hadn’t heard for over 15 years. A couple of months ago, I heard Paul Holden play a couple of hip-house tunes at a rave reunion party and I thought it would be a great idea to revisit these sounds for a full night, incorporating some of the original Chicago house classics alongside acid house. These three genres were the basis of the dance music explosion from 1988-1992, which I would consider the ‘golden period’ of electronic music.

How much of the influence of those acid house days can be heard in electronic music today?

Roland’s Bassline machine – the 303 – which creates that signature acid bassline is currently having its third full resurgence in house and techno today; there are plenty of new records out which use the 303 and pay homage to the originals. The acid house movement was uplifting but serious (musically) at the same time. Underground music today seems to be heading in this same direction, creating a good balance for the dancefloor.

Where were the main venues for these club nights in the 1988-1992 period? How did they compare to venues in 2015?

In Sydney, the main venue was the Hordern Pavilion, which held numerous events such as the RAT Parties, F.U.N, Bacchanalia, Zoo, Pride, Sweatbox… but weekly clubs such as Ziggurats, Blackmarket, Metropolis and The Front played everything from the slower hip hop grooves like Monie Love and the Jungle Brothers, through to house classics like Inner City and Marshall Jefferson, and then on to the acid house craze with artists like 808 State and Phuture. In 2015, the whole scene feels much more sanitised and safe (musically); it’s rare to hear DJs taking a risk with their track selection, which stifles new music. Although there is definitely an underground culture being reignited by the oppressive lockout laws pushing everyone back into warehouses in the Inner West and South Sydney.

If there were one record to define the period, what would it be?

Wow, that’s not easy – maybe ‘Turn Up The Bass’ by Tyree, because it incorporates hip-house, Chicago and acid house elements, but everyone’s going to have their own favourite depending on which genre they prefer. Personally, it could be ‘Get Real’ by Paul Rutherford?

Is there anything about the acid house heyday that’s better left in the past after all?

Smiley face logos have been done to death. I can’t think of much I’d leave behind apart from some of the ghastly costumes, but I can definitely think of plenty of things I’d like to bring back from the acid house period. Red Mitsis spring to mind…

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