Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam

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An excellent album and a pioneer of the entire Hip house and later dance scene. Even next to the singles really good tracks found it's place on the album. I can only emphasize how unique the style of this project was, the entire production was top notch and sounds still excellent today. In addition to the distinctive synth / rhythm elements I would also like to praise the voice of Ya Kid K: She has a wonderfully clear and unique voice which gave the tracks its special flavor.

When I listen to the songs today they are creepy refreshing to me somehow and stand out clearly from the monotony of todays electronic music in mainstream - despite the age. I like this unique style that Technotronic had at that time. Sometimes I even feel that this Hip House style was not completely exhausted. Because it was already in 1992 when the sound changed relatively quickly into euro dance and the old style never really came back or had any chance to develop (was possible imo!). Right now we face the same stuff in the electronic music scene already for decades, and honestly, not that much does change.

The weak point of the album are the last 3 tracks, all have a filler feel to it and they prevent this album from getting a 5 star rating.

Track by Track Review

Pump Up The Jam: An absolute classic and role model for the entire dance scene of the 90s and beyond. Technotronic had their own style: Beginning with the distinctive synth sounds and the springy bass, rhythm section with its hi-hats, snares and claps up to the voice of Ya Kid K. It was a very special symbiosis, culminating resulted in this song. There were a number of imitators that tried to copy the sound, but they never reached the class of the project by Jo Bogaert from Belgium.
For me it is a crystal-clear 5 star rating. Even today, I think the track still sounds quite excellent. 5/5

Get Up (Before The Night Is Over): Stylistically very similar to "Pump Up The Jam", but for my feeling a shade weaker than its predecessor. The verses with the synth pads and strong vocals have an insane groove, the chorus itself, however, I see slightly weaker compared to PUTJ. Overall a very good track too. 4.5/5

Tough: Quite monotonous and repetitive and surely one of the weaker tracks on the album. Also, I prefer the vocals of Ya Kid K over MC Eric. Nevertheless, I must say that the samples and sounds have been incorporated excellent on this track and the sound is also pretty nice. 3.5/5

Take It Slow: A strong mid-tempo track with brilliant vocals from Ya Kid K and compared with the majority of the album slightly different rhythm in hip hop style. Sonically again excellent work has been delivered. I like this track very much. 4.5/5

Come On: This track proves once more that the producers of Technotronic had an incredible knack for successful integration of samples in a song. The melody lines I like in here very much too. I think one of the best instrumental tracks on the album. 4/5

This Beat Is Technotronic: Of course, very similar to Pump Up The Jam, this time with the vocals of MC Eric. The chorus might be a bit too trite and simple, but the instrumental version of this song in its driving energy is also one of my favorites of the Belgian formation and reminds me to some extent already of later trance productions. 4.5/5

Move This: Certainly the most cozy song by Technotronic. Again this track is absolutely convincing in all matters to me and has that typical Technotronic flavour to it. 4.5/5

Come Back: Somewhat monotonous and is definitely a kind of filler. But again, I have to commend the successful integration of samples into this track. 3.5/5

Rockin' Over The Beat: In nature very similar to "Move This", perhaps a little stronger. Apart from the almost customary strong rhythm/synth fraction I really like the vocals - Ya Kid K consistently did a strong work. Also an excellent track in my opinion that is for me worth a 5 star rating. 5/5

Raw: Offers too little variety and an additional synth line would not have hurt. Sadly just kind of a filler. 3/5

Wave: Weakest track on the album. Sounds bulky. Relatively unnecessary ramblings coming from MC Eric, accompanied by an average Acid House track. 2.5/5

String: The last 3 tracks on the album definitely had fill character. Again, the biggest problem is the lack of variety. As a finish of an album a bit too weak. 3/5