How Clubbing On Nineties TV Inspired Me To Rave

An ode to the shows that sparked my desire to get out there

Jan 16, 2025

Welcome back to Music Is The Answer! It’s a new year, 2025, a year full of anniversaries for me. It’s actually a little spooky how many major life events I experienced 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years ago… Very spooky indeed. I will be marking some of these milestone moments with various creative endeavours, some of which will find a home here on the newsletter. Watch this space.

First thing I want to share in this edition is that I will be shifting to a paid model with Music Is The Answer very soon. I will explain fully in a future newsletter… But, essentially, it’s time. Hence making a cute little graphic for the banner…

The positive momentum from the last couple of months or so continues to propel my life in the right direction(s) and a couple of key lifestyle changes have led to increased energy and an overwhelming flow of ideas. I’ve always been an ideas person, but over the last week or two I’ve been having trouble getting to sleep (rare for me) and waking up stressed with all of the plans I have bouncing around inside the creative centre of my brain. Writing them all down has helped a little, but there’s still a slightly uncomfortable sense of urgency and wanting do it all now niggling away at me… All very positive, but I do like to bite off more than I can chew at the best of times.

Anyway, this edition of the newsletter is centred around a topic that I’ve been wanting to cover for quite a while - clubbing on TV. As you’ll read, this was an essential component of my introduction to raving and it was actually the catalyst behind my desire to get out there and experience clubs myself. More so than pirate radio actually.

Besides that main piece, I’m shining a light on Colin Dale’s always amazing Abstrakt Dance show, sharing a couple of album recommendations, my usual selection of mixes, a heads up about what’s forthcoming and One More Tune!.

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Clubbing On’t Telly

**That title is meant to be read in a Peter Kaye-style northern accent**

For so many people of my generation, music television holds a special place in our hearts. Core memories of seeing dance music pioneers on shows like Top Of The Pops and Dance Energy feature heavily alongside my vivid memories of pirate radio. In fact, Top Of The Pops was especially important to me because the night it was broadcast (Thursdays at 7.30pm) was the only time of the week I could stay up half an hour later, when I was about five or six years of age. So, even just making that positive connection to a music show was a key aspect of my love for music.

Later on, Dance Energy was unmissable. At that age I hadn’t fully embraced dance music/rave culture as “my thing” but I found Normski highly entertaining. His persona was hilarious and engaging, as were the vibrant outfits, dancing and people who featured on the show. I watched it every week, before The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air I think, so it definitely planted a subliminal seed. I would’ve been 9 or 10 at that point. As a quick aside, I worked on Normski’s book a couple of years ago (at his request), which was such an incredible full circle moment for me!

By the age of 13 I was deep in the jungle, literally, and hooked on pirate radio - namely Kool FM. I was an avid listener, but that was as far as it went. Being quite reclusive and introverted, I never went to any record shops, and certainly wouldn’t have ever considered trying to go to a rave. Listening to shows on pirate radio, and hearing ads for all the big jungle raves of the time, didn’t once spark any strong motivation to try and get out there - even when Kool FM started putting on their Under-18s “Kool Skool” events. I was curious but that was about it.

Now, something that’s important to add to the mix here is that I was a proper telly addict when I was a kid. My two main loves were music and graffiti, so I would scour the TV magazine every week to see if any of the four terrestrial channels (the good stuff was usually on Channel 4) were due to broadcast anything remotely connected to those two passions. We didn’t have satellite TV, but I was well aware of MTV and The Box through friends at school. However, they were not the cultural touchpoints for me like they were for other people. Anyway, now and again something interesting would pop up - from a segment about hip hop on the BBC’s Clothes Show to a short late-night documentary about graffiti on Channel 4. I’d always set the timer on the VCR and record things, then watch them over and over religiously. Goldie’s appearance on Passengers was iconic for me.

One of my many VHS tapes from the nineties

By the late nineties I’d happened across ITV’s early hours clubbing shows. These two shows - Club Nation and Clubavision - were absolutely essential in my transition from curious bedroom raver to having a deep yearning to get out there and actually experience these mythical spaces. Clubavision was particularly important, as it ran for quite a while and I recorded several episodes, as well as staying up late to catch it sometimes.

There was something so enticing and alluring about the way they depicted the world of clubs. As a heterosexual teenage boy, it helped that the presenters were always attractive women, but, more than that, the show helped to demystify a world that seemed out of reach. Dynamic panning and zooming by the camera team, interviews with DJs I’d only ever been able to see in my imagination, ravers doing vox pops, all the music, all the big name clubs, dance charts and hints of the debauchery I was missing out on… There’s a clip from Aquarium club in Shoreditch, from the times when they would actually use the hot tub in there. All these wet, half naked people frolicking in what would obviously be quite a mucky soup of raver crud (which you can watch in the video above). “I WANT TO BE THERE,” was the overriding thought I had. The interview with fashion designer Dane is brilliant - “This collection is called ‘Millennium Junkie’ and it’s a reaction against Millennium fever. I’m not that excited about the year 2000 because the world still hasn’t sorted itself out.” I wonder where Dane is now?

Coincidentally, halfway through writing this, I saw Eats Everything had posted a clip from Rapture TV at Trade in 1998. The clip encapsulates everything that I’m saying in this piece - yes, thick with nostalgia, but there’s also a very endearing, unvarnished naivety. The presenters are clearly off their nuts, and the whole thing had me beaming. A lot of people will say “better times”, no cameras blah blah… I get tired of seeing these kind of comments online, but I can agree that there is something about the era these shows have captured that is lacking today.

I’m sure we can all look back and critique/dissect these shows through a 2025 lens, but, for the time, and especially for myself, at the age of 16/17, it was very inspiring. Finally, I could see the inner workings of the raves. The Ibiza episode is a classic. That was my very first insight into the fabled island, and I was spellbound. I just had to get to these places one day, all of them - Ibiza, Tall Trees, Bagley’s, Opera House in Bournemouth…

Amazingly, being the partial hoarder I am, I kept all the VHS recordings of Clubavision. I found them all while clearing out my garage on Boxing Day 2022. Not long after that, I bought a VCR from eBay, and a converter, which I used to digitise the lot and upload them to YouTube back in 2023 - 25 years after they were recorded. The founder of Clubavision, Russ Cleaver also has his own channel on YouTube with all 76 episodes in HD quality. It’s worth dipping in when you have time. A small snapshot of what was happening back in the late nineties. Funny at times, insightful and entertaining throughout and, yes, a bit cringe, too. It was the nineties after all. I laughed out loud when I saw a few familiar faces… Tom Jenkins and Jen Cochrane among them.

**I’ve interviewed Russ, and one of the shows best-known presenters, Lisa Nash, so watch out for those in the next edition of my newsletter**

I’ve also uploaded an episode of Club Nation and a BBC documentary called Clublife 98, which, surprisingly to me, wasn’t already online. Clublife has tens of thousands of views now, and seems to have sparked an extra large dose of nostalgia in everyone who’s watched it. I wish stuff like this still existed, I guess that’s the old man in me… Of course, it could never exist in the same way now as it did then. A lot of people document their own nights now - whether the promoter has a videographer or the attendees are using their phones - and, sometimes, the whole “rave scene” seems to me to be a little too po-faced, or sanitised, for the kind of silliness that often crops up in Clubavision. There was still a kind of innocence to it all, such a contradiction in terms because raving back then was far from innocent for most people who went out but I think you know what I mean. Who knows… I noticed Tribes TV are doing something that has echoes of this format. Big shout to Jukesy and Katie Knight.

I have to admit, even though I know it would be grimy as hell, part of me still wants to get in that hot tub at Aquarium!…

I’d love to know if you watched Clubavision, or if you’ve had time to watch any episodes and what you think about it now. What other shows or channels gave you a connection to club culture? Let me know!

Album Recommendations

A Guy Called Gerald - Black Secret Technology [Juice Box]

This 1995 LP is a special one. A Guy Called Gerald did a lot for jungle/DnB, besides his pioneering late eighties productions. This album encapsulates his future-facing creative outlook, with 13 tracks that bring together rugged breaks, sci-fi samples and cosmic dreamscapes. I first came across this album through the track he made with Goldie, as The Two Gs, called ‘Energy’. I have an old tape of Bryan Gee on Kool FM and he plays it on his show. Everything about the tune epitomises why I fell in love with drum’n’bass; the hardstep beats and futuristic production, soulful vocals, and an atmosphere which, back in 1995 especially, sounded like nothing else I’d ever heard. Across the whole album Gerald shows us exactly why he’s such a revered artist. I highly recommend carving some time out of your day to give it your full attention.

Buy The LP

Teddy Douglas - I’m Here [Nervous Records]

This album came out a couple of months ago. I spent time with Teddy in his hometown Baltimore back in 2019 for this piece I wrote for Mixmag, and I recently caught up with him at ADE. He’s a true house legend, and I was intrigued to hear his album after he told me all about it in Amsterdam. Teddy’s been deep in the music game for over 40 years, but this is his first ever solo LP. The lineup of musicians who appear on the album is special: Ultra Nate, Fast Eddie, Pauline Taylor, Richard Farrell, SIPHO, BDI Thug, "B Mo" Moultrie and his crew from Jasper St. Co.. The music pushes out of the house box here and there to encompass styles that may surprise his fans. But, for some artists, the whole allure of an album is to be able to do just that. Teddy does it with aplomb, the title track is especially expressive. Brilliance from a Baltimore pioneer.

Buy The LP

Spotlight: Abstrakt Dance

If you know anything about UK electronic music history, you will be aware of Colin Dale. One of first wave of early adopters to the then-emergent house and techno sounds coming out of the States, Colin is a living treasure. He’s probably best known for his hugely influential Abstrakt Dance show, which he hosted on Kiss FM for almost 20 years. Over the last couple of years Colin has brought the Abstrakt Dance show back - via YouTube and Mixcloud - and a whole community of fans (old and new) couldn’t be happier.

I’ve been avidly listening to his playlist of fortnightly shows for the past few days and they have been the source of much joy. Colin’s selections span house, techno, acid and all kinds of cosmic funk-infused electronica. There’s a new tune by Binary State (AKA hardcore/jungle/DnB legend, Nookie), which has been giving me tingles - alongside a whole host of other amazing cuts; upfront releases, exclusives, and there’s always a few golden oldies in the mix, too. I was ecstatic when he played Liaisons D - “Future F.J.P.” as the closer on his 24th Jan 2024 show, which I was listening to earlier today. I have been (quite desperately) trying to find out the name of that one for a couple of months. It’s right at the end of a tape of mine I recorded 24 years ago and I have always wondered what it was. Today, I finally found out. Thanks Colin!

I love the fact that it’s recorded in Colin’s lounge, you feel like you’re chilling with him - especially when he introduces the show by saying, “Welcome along, my friends”. His warm, humble nature shines through and adds to the whole listening experience.

I grabbed Colin for a quick chat to talk about the show…

What was the initial spark behind reviving Abstrakt Dance?
Before lockdown, I had no inclination of doing anything like that. It was purely being in lockdown that made me run out and buy loads of camera gear, learn to use it and then do the show. No one had any idea how long lockdown was going to be, and I didn't want to be doing nothing for what could well have been a very long time. So that was the initial idea of revamping and restarting the show.

I really enjoy scrolling through all the comments on the uploads of your shows - everyone's so appreciative of the fact that you're doing it again. A lot of people hold Abstrakt Dance very dear to their hearts. What's that like for you getting all of that positive feedback?
You know what, Marcus, it is absolutely amazing. The thing that really drives me, and keeps me going, is the amount of people that say to me, “We used to listen to yourself and Colin Faver in the nineties”. Lots of them have been listening right the way through, either in clubs or on the radio. Loads and loads of them have come back, which, for me, is amazing, especially since I restarted the show after a 20-year hiatus. I had no idea that I'd get that sort of response, and it seems to be growing as well. There's no slowdown. So, yeah, I'm just really appreciative and happy for the people that continue to support me.

What are your thoughts about where things are going with it? Are you happy to be doing your fortnightly shows and organically building it that way, without too much of a strategy or agenda around it?
Absolutely. The great thing about the show is that it's not like standard radio shows. Everything is quite flexible, because I run it from home. So it’s all down to me. The aim is to keep it going. Although when I first started, I thought I was just going to run it for a lockdown and then stop. But it started to gather such pace, and I really enjoyed doing it as well. It's pretty much the only time I manage to get on the decks and have a good mix down session. So, the plan is to keep doing it. I love the interaction that I get from from people watching it live as well. Beyond the show, we're hoping to do a tour with myself - Megan Mann, A Guy Called Gerald’s manager, is sorting it all out. The hope is to tie it all in under the Abstrakt Dance banner with the label, the radio show, and myself, of course, and do a tour this year.

What does Abstrakt Dance mean to you? Because it's been such a consistently positive presence in your life - I guess it's a space where you can really express yourself freely…
It's funny, because people think “Abstrakt Dance” is actually a genre of music that I'm trying to create, which is totally wrong. The name goes back to my early Kiss FM shows, when I played soul and funk. I thought I'd call it Abstrakt Dance because it gave me an umbrella to do different things under, and not just stick to one genre. I still play it that way today. If you listen to the show, it's quite varied. I don't stick to one genre, and it really is a journey thing: I start with house, and then we work our way through the gears to techier things at the end. So Abstrakt Dance really is just an umbrella for me to do my thing really. And that thing that I do has become the brand and the sound of the whole thing. It wasn't a conscious decision to do that when I started using the moniker Abstrakt Dance, but I can use it as a way to tie everything together as well, with the record label, the radio show, and, of course, what I do in clubs. So that's the idea behind it.

Make sure you tune in every fortnight, or catch up on the shows, via Colin’s YouTube channel or Mixcloud. Essential listening.

Mixes I’ve Been Rinsin’

Here’s a bunch of mixes that have been soundtracking the start of 2025. I’m always on the lookout for new mixes, so if any of you feel called to send me something you’ve enjoyed, please do share.

Plasticman - Rinsessions Vol 1 [2005]

It’s not possible to embed the Mixcloud player into this post, so please follow the link here. I’ve been listening to Plastician’s lengthy interview with DaMetalMessiah during my morning workouts this week and it is absolute GOLD. His memories and storytelling have added so much context to an era that I lived through myself; the early years of dubstep and grime. I was listening to pirate radio, collecting CD and DVD packs and immersing myself in the burgeoning sounds around 2001 - 2004 and beyond. I have to say, Plasticman, as he was known then, was up there as one of my favourites. I’ve actually got this CD pack (Rinsessions Vol.1), which is 20 years old this year, and I’m listening to the Plasticman CD right now as I type. FIRE. Great interview, too. Make sure you check it out.

Delayed with… abh & Hoff

When I was halfway through a 17-hour marathon at Berghain last March, I took some time out and had a sit down just outside Panorama Bar. A guy I’d had a lovely interaction with on the dance floor came and sat with me and we chatted about music and our respective backgrounds. One of many great moments I had in there during that particular visit. I gave him my Soundcloud and we stayed in touch for a bit. He shared this mix with me not long after we’d met and, to be honest, I only just got round to listening to it after thinking of him the other day and going back to our message thread to say hello. The electro stuff in the first third or so is really really doing it for me.

Mr. G - Ambient Mix | RA Greenhouse Sessions

Colin McBean needs no introduction. Inspired by his step into leftfield with the album The Fifth Chakra (Ambient Space Tek), this mix blends soundscapes and minimalism, with wistful vocal excursions and a general feeling of comfort and calm. Impeccable vibes from The G.

DJ Hermit | Frog & Nightgown | 26th December 1994

Remember when the period between Christmas and New Year was jam packed with big raves and after parties? This is from one of those, three decades ago, when UK garage was just getting started. The Frog & Nightgown was an after party, and Hermit was one of the dons of that time - speeding up US garage and soulful house to get the people lively, with Creed on the mic. Perfect.

1:20.00 Deep House & Space Grooves | Vinyl & Cassette Tape 90's Analog Mixtape

YouTube’s algorithm served this one up a couple of weeks ago. It’s the first of a series of vinyl mixes that Xander Milne has recorded to audio cassette, and then digitised, to give it that lo-fi warmth. This mix is my favourite of the four he’s uploaded so far. There’s some seriously great music on this one.

ambient jungle mix

Over three and a half hours of ambient jungle by one artist. Yes, ONE artist - Dopo Goto - who I’d never even heard of until I stumbled across this mix. So much depth, movement and texture in these tunes, it really grounded me during a night of working late and I’ve come back to it a few times since.

Relaxing Experimental Ambient [Vinyl Studio Session] with RAICA

RAICA, AKA Seattle legend Chloe Harris, creates a masterful mix of ambient productions here. I don’t usually watch mixes on YouTube, but I actually stopped to take in what RAICA was doing with her records as it’s utterly sublime. Some of the transitions are beautifully crafted.

Danny Foster | Underground Solution '94 -'97

Garage Tape Packs are doing the work of the Lord on their channel. They are creating a digital archive of classic garage tape packs and mixes, in a similar vein to Take Me Back: Pirate Radio Archives, another channel putting energy into archiving analogue recordings from the past. This is a mix of 100% Underground Solution cuts from the mid-late 90s, put together by one of the members of the garage duo - Danny Foster. Love it.

Yoyaku instore session with Satoshi Tomiie b2b Tomoki Tamura

Yoyaku’s in-store sessions are always top notch, but this one is peak. Two amazing artists going back to back to celebrate their recent release together. You can see the high regard they have for one another, which is very heartwarming, and the music they play is just… uuffffff. Stunning. Big shout to Tomoki, I’ve been a fan of his for years, playing a lot of releases from his label Holic Trax back in the early 2010s. Whenever we’ve communicated via email he’s always been so accommodating and lovely.

Forthcoming…

If you’ve made it this far, THANKYOU.

I thought it would be useful to let my readers to know what’s coming up in the newsletter. I’ve been working hard behind-the-scenes to gather up some quality content for the future, so here’s a heads up on some forthcoming interviews:

Victor Simonelli: Been on a big Simonelli flex over the past year, and managed to get some time with him when he was in the UK not long ago. Had an amazing chat, and I’m recording a mix of some my favourite Simonelli tracks to go with it.

Bill Patrick: I approached Bill for an interview after I went to his book launch at ADE. We did two separate interviews recently going in-depth about his photography - what it means to him and how it’s helped support his mental health. We also spoke about nostalgia and how his cancer diagnosis has amplified the way he views the past, and his fears about the future. Very poignant, as you can imagine.

DJ Winggold: I spent some time with the brains behind Unbound events to discuss a myriad topics relating to his personal history, how he connected with techno music, afrofuturism, creating events that have meaning beyond simply partying the night away and lots more.

Michelle K: One of Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson’s protégés, Michelle told me her story of getting into record shopping and DJing as a teenager, finding success on the London circuit, launching a clothing line and having to step away due to addiction. She discussed recovery with me candidly and her story is one I really can’t wait to share.

There are others in the bag, but I’ll leave you with those for now. All interviews will be long-form because I really believe in the power of in-depth, longer form editorial. I hope you do, too.

One More Tune!

This crept up on me on YouTube and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Scoured the internet for it when I first heard it about five weeks ago… nothing! Put it on my Want List on Discogs and got an alert the other week —> it was selling for about £200 on vinyl and £130 for a CD copy. I don’t know why the hell this has happened, but I can only assume there’s been some social media hype. Anyway, one day I’ll snag a copy somehow and get my chance to play it to an appreciative crowd (in my imagination this would be at Panorama Bar at 7am on a Monday!).

Thanks for reading. There’s some great stuff on the way from Music Is The Answer this year, so make sure you stick with me, subscribe and spread the word.