Suburban Delay ‘Energy Rush’

Catalogue Number CSRT001
A fitting way to launch our unofficial tribute to Clubscene. The track that bears the famous ‘CSRT001’ catalogue number was an instant hit on its original release in 1992 and remains a much loved and much played track to this day, more than 30 years on.

‘Energy Rush’ is a near 8 minute instrumental, save for the male ‘energy!’ vocal which kicks in just before the main hook. Later reissues and remixes would include more substantial vocals which added a new dimension to the song. Welcome though this was, the track is powerful enough to thrive without vocals.

To some, ‘Energy Rush’ is an incredibly simple track with an irresistible, highly memorable repeating piano riff and huge rave synth horns through the post chorus. But there’s much more going on. The middle section from 3’42 to 5’54 twists and turns its way through a dark, pulsing, techno tunnel which makes the return to the main hook all the more euphoric. It’s worth keeping this in mind when some people suggest ‘Energy Rush’ as one of the ‘softer’ tracks around at the time. I know what they mean but the middle section shouldn’t be forgotten about and would stand up alongside the very best and deepest techno tracks of the time.

I’m told ‘Energy Rush’ was often played as the final track at the end of some of Scotland’s most famous all night raves, taking crowds from the frenzy and madness of the night, gently back to the real world after one last burst of that irreplaceable ‘energy’. Personally, I would also play it earlier in the night rather than saving it entirely for dawn.

It is to Scotland’s rave scene what New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ is to Manchester. Recorded in 1991, the initial Clubscene release was followed by well deserved UK wide distribution and it was a no brainer to include this on the ‘Essential Clubscene Volume 1’ compilation album meaning the original 12″ mix is available on CD.

Every credible dance music DJ in the country should own a copy of this and find a place for it in their set. Huge credit to Gordon Tennant of Suburban Delay for creating this absolute brilliance in the first place and the team at Apollo Studios where it was recorded for helping bring it to life and launching such an amazing record label.

The original release featured the 12″ version, a 4 and a half minute radio mix, and the tracks ‘Menthol’ and ‘Intelligent Techno’ (ZBD Mix). ‘Menthol’ is a sparse, dark, almost drum n bass techno track, a little similar to some of the music Ultra-Sonic would release later in their Arpeggio and Acid Circus era and well worth a listen. ‘Intelligent Techno’ has a more ambient feel, before erupting into a full on rave stomper with piano hooks, horns, buzzes, phasers, bleeps and more. There’s touches of Italian house, English breakbeat and the unmistakable Scottish techno sound that Suburban Delay and a few others really pioneered. All the tracks on this release hold up incredibly well and highlight the diversity of the Scottish dance scene at that time. There’s much more to Suburban Delay than ‘Energy Rush’ but it’s fitting that they enjoy the plaudits that come from writing and recording one of the true anthems of the scene.


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