Luna C- Project Zero EP

https://kniteforce.bandcamp.com/album/kf71-luna-c-project-zero-ep-pre-sale

Luna C takes us on a journey back to where it began with the ‘Project Zero EP’ This a journey back to 1992 using the hardware that fuelled those happy and hedonistic sounds. It’s like the man who once reached No2 in the UK top 40 hasn’t missed a beat Going off on a slight tangent here but one of the first records (vinyl) I ever bought was co produced by Chris Howell aka Luna C. I was a spotty 13yr old who loved ‘rave music’ much to the disdain of my Guns N’ Roses loving peers at school. I lived in Andover, Hants and the only record store nearby was an Our Price. I remember my ears pricking up when I heard Smart e’s ‘Sesame’s Treet’ played on Pete Tong’s ‘Mad Music Sweep’, part of his Radio 1 Essential selection show. My Nan bought me three records, The XL 4 Play EP, Urban Hype ‘A Trip To Trumpton’ and the aforementioned ‘Sesame’s Treet’

Without any real access to radio stations and record stores, I relied on nameless mixtapes to get my fix of ‘rave’ or ‘hardcore’ and it wasn’t until around 97′ or 98 that I learned of the legendary Kniteforce imprint. I first heard Luna C’s ‘Piano Progression’ on a Low Price Music 4 CD compilation titled ‘The Best Of Happy Hardcore’  and now, 20 or so years later I am glad to review the amazing ‘Project Zero EP’

‘Into Insanity’ is 1992 personified, a track that takes a vocal snippet from Oceanic ‘Insanity’ and slams down on the pedal before hurtling down Hardcore Lane in a raving ‘Road Rash’ fashion (now there’s a reference for you oldies like me) stopping off at a Ragga party and passing through the Jungle of Tekno for good measure.

And then there is ‘ Back To Cause Mayhem’, Wow, Bob, Wow said the little man in the red suit. He proceeded to do his little dance around the red curtains across the mosaic floor while the man in black spilt his coffee. Uplifting vocals? Check, mental mentasm riffs and hoovers? You betcha Bob!!! Is this the future or is the past? OK, that’s enough of my obsessive Twin Peaks references but Damn, this a fine tune!!! Some of that Luna C piano magic and fast slammin’ breaks top off a wonderful piece of musical mayhem.

‘Black Static’ channels the energy of the Black Panthers, Malcom X and Samuel L Jackson into Ragga Rave slammer Mk II  for ‘Project Zero.’ This has me thinking of some of the late 92/early 93 Suburban Base/Moving Shadow material in a soundclash with early Kniteforce. It’s like an alternative Tarantino movie soundtrack breakbeat hardcore style. Picture those fight scenes from Kill Bill and replace the Japanese 50’s rock with this badboy, way better I’m sure you will agree!!!!

We close out with some more hoovers n’ spray cans by the name of ‘Alice’. There’s a really cool speed up slow down vocal in ‘Alice’, a dash of Zero B ‘Lock Up’ style stabbage and a whole lotta interesting things going on in general. There is also a massive happy drop with more trippy vocals. The thing that stands out about this EP so much is the wonderfully authentic sound. I would say that is down to the hardware but more importantly its down to Luna C’s knowledge and history of producing countless anthems on that very hardware. In very simple terms- if you’re a true lover of the oldskool, you cannot miss out on this latest chapter in the history of hardcore!!!!

Luna C- Project Zero EP