Before the "Genre Mainstream" set in, Hardcore, and also Techno, were not styles or categories that are as fixed as they are now.
Many labels (and artists) existed on a kind of liminal location, that sat in-between the various movements, styles, sub-cultures, and political claims...
One of these was Digital Hardcore Recordings, which enchanted Hardcore Heads, Punks, Indie Rockers, Hip Hop fans and lots of additional contingents in youth and other (older) movements.
And, paradoxically, while DHR was probably one of the most underground efforts, as these releases literally did not give a fuck about genre conventions, image, likability... they were also *the most known* hardcore-adjacent and extreme electronic label in the 90s.
every global music, culture, fashion magazine tried to get an interview or story with one of its artists... they toured all over the world and in the major cities... they were on big rotation on MTV and other music television.
It was a common thing to come home after a squat rave, turn on the TV in order to "chill", and suddenly see Atari Teenage Riot, Alec Empire, Hanin or Ec8or appear on the screen.
Even the mainstream press and media regularly covered the label.
Everyone, from Aphex Twin to the Beastie Boys, loved this music.
So it is a bit "strange" that all of this has faded into the obscurity of history by now...
Or on a second thought, it might be not as strange at all - the societal mainstream likely can't handle music that is as extreme and direct as this, so they prefer to remain silent.
We don't like the sound of silence, though, so here is our own retrospective of Digital Hardcore Recordings.
Many labels (and artists) existed on a kind of liminal location, that sat in-between the various movements, styles, sub-cultures, and political claims...
One of these was Digital Hardcore Recordings, which enchanted Hardcore Heads, Punks, Indie Rockers, Hip Hop fans and lots of additional contingents in youth and other (older) movements.
And, paradoxically, while DHR was probably one of the most underground efforts, as these releases literally did not give a fuck about genre conventions, image, likability... they were also *the most known* hardcore-adjacent and extreme electronic label in the 90s.
every global music, culture, fashion magazine tried to get an interview or story with one of its artists... they toured all over the world and in the major cities... they were on big rotation on MTV and other music television.
It was a common thing to come home after a squat rave, turn on the TV in order to "chill", and suddenly see Atari Teenage Riot, Alec Empire, Hanin or Ec8or appear on the screen.
Even the mainstream press and media regularly covered the label.
Everyone, from Aphex Twin to the Beastie Boys, loved this music.
So it is a bit "strange" that all of this has faded into the obscurity of history by now...
Or on a second thought, it might be not as strange at all - the societal mainstream likely can't handle music that is as extreme and direct as this, so they prefer to remain silent.
We don't like the sound of silence, though, so here is our own retrospective of Digital Hardcore Recordings.
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