DJ Promo* – It Runs Deep E.P.

Before DJ Promo really finessed his sound in 1997, he was making some OK Gabber music for various ID&T record labels with a slight Happy Hardcore flavour. It Runs Deep Part 1 is a hidden piece of gold in Sebastian Hoff's 25 year career. I first heard it on Earthquake IV and instantly recognised the gritty sample from the 1989 movie, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. The track is quite emotional, sometimes I call it Dark Beautiful Hardcore. Lovely but haunting pads are accompanied by effective keyboard riffs and an unrecognisible Promo bouncy bassdrum. The middle of the track has a speedy cut up synth riff that flies across the track. The last breakdown has arguably the best melody of the track, dark and beautiful. In hindsight, this song was only a taste of things to come in the future.

The other track of note is Psycho Style. A far inferior track that makes an appearance during stage diving DJ Delirium's set at the famous Thunderdome 96 party and subsequent double CD. The Lords Of The Underground sample is obscure, it shows that Promo is a big Hip Hop fan. The track is co-written by Da Vinci who would go onto make far superior music on the awesome label, Cenobite Records. Excellent tracks on the FTWA record and the painfully rare DJ Oblivion white label.