HAPPY HARD FROM THE UK/EUROPE TO THE GLOBAL RAVE SCENE
Happy Hardcore is an Electronic Music Style that was formed in the Early to late 90s in the UK and Mainland Europe. It is often characterised by the fast beats, melodies and uplifting vocals, piano synths and kicks. Most of the earlier Happy Hard sound was heavily influenced by Fast Breakbeat sounds, with warbling 'chipmunk' voices blended in for good effect and rave/euphoric soundscapes. As the scene progressed, the sound moved away from the 'dark' Jungle sounds and into a more 4/4 techno beat that had some heavy kicks and claps incorporated. The primary evolution of Happyhardcore was just beginning and the sound would become more refined as huge crowds came together to dance all night (rave) to the sounds of Hardcore. The Rave Sound was truly and firmly in its golden years from 1990 - 1999. The next millennium would also be about to fragment the sounds of Happy Hardcore even further... Tributes to the Pioneers of Happy Hardcore!
HHC Artists and Influences from other Dance and Electronic styles -
Drum N Bass / Jungle - A lot of early UK-based HHC was basically uplifting breakbeat sounds. Artists include The Eliminators, Dj Phantasy, Slipmatt, Brisk, Dok Ponder
Euro-Dance : Popular in Germany, Spain, Italy and other parts of Europe e.g. 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor, 4 Tunes Fairytales, Paul Elstak, Interactive, Scooter, Mindtrust
Here in the Netherlands we still have a part called 'PJGU' where they still play all the happy hardcore and catchy songs from the 80's and 90's. It's monthly and it's always sold out :)
Gabber - Gabber influences a lot of mid-90s HHC - specifically from Germany and the Netherlands - e.g. some call it Happy Gabber - e.g. Party Animals, Dj Delirium, 3 Steps Ahead, Technohead, Bass D and King Matthew
Trance - After the mid-90s, the Trance sound really took off in Europe and became more popular than HHC. HHC changed its form and style with a few artists creating the new 'Trancecore' sound. Artists include Dj Tibby, Sharkey, Special D, Kevin Energy,
Freeform - Usually Characterised by the speed and acid sounds, Freeform, also known as 'Trancecore' in '99, was a new sound movement from the Year 2000 onwards that was more experimental rather than HHC-based. Fi-NRG, Ephexis and Carbon-Based
Makina - Spanish influenced HHC. This sound had very basic melodies but with a repetitive speedy, kicking bassline that is very similar to Hard and Bouncy Techno. The sound merged with Hard House and became known as 'Scouse House' or 'Donk'
Artists include: Atreyu, Hardsequencer, Fraktal 4, Fraktal 5 and Fraktal 6, M-Project,
J-core - Japanese Happy Hardcore. Artists - S3Raver, Red Alice, Shimmamura, Konomama, M-Project, T-Pazolite
Hardstyle - Hardstyle was an offshoot of Hard Trance music and is closely related to Hard Techno but played at a slower pace with an emphasis on the kick and reverse bass sound.
HHC Artists and Influences from other Dance and Electronic styles -
Drum N Bass / Jungle - A lot of early UK-based HHC was basically uplifting breakbeat sounds. Artists include The Eliminators, Dj Phantasy, Slipmatt, Brisk, Dok Ponder
Euro-Dance : Popular in Germany, Spain, Italy and other parts of Europe e.g. 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor, 4 Tunes Fairytales, Paul Elstak, Interactive, Scooter, Mindtrust
Here in the Netherlands we still have a part called 'PJGU' where they still play all the happy hardcore and catchy songs from the 80's and 90's. It's monthly and it's always sold out :)
Gabber - Gabber influences a lot of mid-90s HHC - specifically from Germany and the Netherlands - e.g. some call it Happy Gabber - e.g. Party Animals, Dj Delirium, 3 Steps Ahead, Technohead, Bass D and King Matthew
Trance - After the mid-90s, the Trance sound really took off in Europe and became more popular than HHC. HHC changed its form and style with a few artists creating the new 'Trancecore' sound. Artists include Dj Tibby, Sharkey, Special D, Kevin Energy,
Freeform - Usually Characterised by the speed and acid sounds, Freeform, also known as 'Trancecore' in '99, was a new sound movement from the Year 2000 onwards that was more experimental rather than HHC-based. Fi-NRG, Ephexis and Carbon-Based
Makina - Spanish influenced HHC. This sound had very basic melodies but with a repetitive speedy, kicking bassline that is very similar to Hard and Bouncy Techno. The sound merged with Hard House and became known as 'Scouse House' or 'Donk'
Artists include: Atreyu, Hardsequencer, Fraktal 4, Fraktal 5 and Fraktal 6, M-Project,
J-core - Japanese Happy Hardcore. Artists - S3Raver, Red Alice, Shimmamura, Konomama, M-Project, T-Pazolite
Hardstyle - Hardstyle was an offshoot of Hard Trance music and is closely related to Hard Techno but played at a slower pace with an emphasis on the kick and reverse bass sound.
Scott Brown
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The original kingpin of UK Hardcore Scott Brown hails from Scotland land of the Highlander and Bouncy Techno where the music is hard, fast and bouncy. They also have a lot of Bouncy Makina music from the Northeast, which is closely related to Balearic Techno and Spanish Makina genre.