The CORE: Issue 60 – December 16, 1992

The 60th issue of ‘The Core’ magazine, dated December 16th, serves as a time capsule, preserving a moment when Adelaide’s dance music scene was at a fever pitch. In the weeks before Christmas 1992, the city’s nightlife was a vibrant ecosystem fueled by touring UK rave acts, groundbreaking American hip hop, and a deep roster of local DJ talent holding court in packed-out clubs.

Artist Spotlights: The Sounds of the Season

The unique character of Adelaide’s nightlife was shaped by a dynamic interplay between global trends and homegrown talent. The pages of ‘The Core’ celebrated both the international acts touring the country and the local DJs who commanded the city’s dancefloors every week. This section delves into the profiles of key artists featured at the time, including the spiritual hip hop of Arrested Development, the rave energy of Dream Frequency, and the rising local star, DJ Glacia.

Arrested Development: Spiritual Southern Hip Hop

The cover story of the week belonged to Arrested Development, the US hip hop collective whose “blusey southern-style music” was offering a new, “gentle face of hip hop.” Led by the self-appointed Speech (Todd Thomas), the group championed a philosophy rooted in spiritual themes and positive messages, consciously moving away from the harder edges of the genre. “It’s not just a hippy love album – the album is real,” Speech explained, emphasizing the authentic and lived-in nature of their sound.

Formed in Atlanta, Georgia, the group evolved from Speech’s initial solo project into a sprawling collective of performers. The lineup included founder Speech, turntablist Headliner (Timothy Barnwell), vocalists Aerle Taree and Montsho Eshe, percussionist Rasa Don, and the group’s spiritual elder, Baba Oje. This communal structure was central to their identity and creative process.

Their debut album, “3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of…”, was a critical and commercial success. Speech described the album’s lyrical arc as a journey, moving from early, intense political tracks to more personal themes that embraced the group’s collective experience. He noted that many of the songs were crafted over years, “because it reflects different people in my life and in the group members’ lives.”

The group’s influence extended beyond their own records. They were featured participants in the Red Hot and Rap project, a fundraising initiative that also included luminaries like Public Enemy and Ice Cube. At the time of publication, their singles “People Everyday” and “Tennessee” were available locally through EMI. This growing international acclaim was reflected in the industry, with the group recently winning Best Rap Act at the annual DMC Awards, further cementing their global impact.

Dream Frequency: UK Rave Stars in Adelaide

Hailing from the UK, the pop-dance act Dream Frequency represented the energetic rave sound that was captivating global dancefloors. With two UK superhits to their name, the group was part of a “new thread of world-class pop-dance” emerging from the British scene and were set to headline the massive Liquid New Year’s Eve rave at Le Rox.

The core of Dream Frequency consisted of producer Ian Bland and vocalist Debbie Sharp. Their debut album, “One Nation”, showcased their signature sound, anchored by the prominent singles “Feel So Real” and “Take Me”. The tracks blended ecstatic synth lines with powerful vocals, creating anthems purpose-built for large-scale parties.

Adelaide fans were given the opportunity to experience this energy firsthand, as Dream Frequency was scheduled to perform live at the massive Liquid New Year’s Eve rave at Le Rox. Highlighting the anticipation for their set, a competition was advertised offering readers the chance to win free tickets to the event.

DJ Glacia: Profile of a Local Talent

Alongside international headliners, ‘The Core’ also turned its spotlight on local artists making their mark. A profile on 19-year-old DJ Ilya, known professionally as DJ Glacia, painted a picture of a dedicated and ambitious young talent rising through the ranks of the Adelaide scene.

Glacia’s career began at home, where he practiced mixing on a couple of turntables. After developing his skills and producing a demo tape in late 1991, he connected with promoter Paul Hodder, who gave him a spot at McMahon’s on Friday nights. This break proved to be his launchpad into the city’s professional DJ circuit.

His musical style was described as highly versatile, with sets that could range “from hip hop through to hard techno.” While open-minded, he had his limits, noting a dislike for one particular subgenre: “The only dance music I don’t like is trance techno… Trance is just a bit too hard for me.” At the time, Glacia held a regular spot at The Ark on Thursdays and was booked for upcoming gigs at Feva’s on Thursday, December 27th and Rosies on Saturday, December 19th. A firm believer in proactive self-promotion, Glacia disliked playing to empty rooms and was focused on building his presence in a competitive scene.

These artists, both global and local, provided the soundtrack for a city ready to celebrate, filling the venues and events that defined Adelaide’s nightlife.

The Pulse of the Nightlife: Major Events and Club Venues

December 1992 was a marquee month for Adelaide’s clubbers. The holiday season brought with it a series of large-scale, one-off parties alongside a packed calendar of regular weekly nights at the city’s premier venues. A scan of the month’s biggest events reveals a handful of DJs as the scene’s heavyweights, with names like HMC, G.T., and X-citement appearing on multiple premier lineups. The following is a guide to the key events and club residencies advertised during this festive period.

Holiday Season Headliners

• X-Perience Dance Tour: Billed as a massive international event, this tour was set to land at Heaven (7 West Tce) on Wednesday, 30th December. The lineup was a testament to the global nature of the dance scene, featuring a live performance from UK rave pioneers The Prodigy, alongside legendary international DJs Frankie Knuckles and Sasha, supported by Australian stalwarts Pee Wee Ferris, GT, and HMC.
• Liquid New Year’s Eve: Le Rox prepared to host an epic New Year’s Eve rave, promising “Six Room Total Entertainment” and “12 Hours of Non Stop New Years Eve Fun.” The main attraction was a live set from UK act Dream Frequency. The multi-level event featured several distinct zones:
  • Laser Chamber (Level 1): A visual experience with DJ EX-VULTREK.
  • Tag Team (Main Room): Featuring a triple-header of DJs G.T., X-CITE-MENT, and HMC.
  • Hip Hop Sound Lounge (Level 2): Sounds provided by MADCAP and NIGEL IN CONTROL.
  • D.J. Jam Room (Level 3): A showcase for “Adelaide’s best New Talent of ’92.”
• Miller Xmas Eve Bash at Luna: On Thursday, 24th December, the connected venues of Luna, LeRox, and Metro hosted a Christmas Eve party presented by Miller. The DJ lineup included HMC, Nigel, X-citement, Madcap, and MC Scott T, running from 10pm – 5am with tickets priced at $8 at the door.
• Illusion: A “special one-off night” was held at the Lion Arts Centre on Saturday, 19th December. This unique event blended music with dazzling visuals by Fuzareq, a fashion parade choreographed by the State Theatre Company, and dance performances. The soundtrack was provided by DJs HMC, Hugh-Z, Brendon, and The System AD.

Weekly Club Guide

Beyond the holiday specials, a robust schedule of weekly nights and special events kept the city’s dancefloors full.

Le Rox

This venue was a central hub for dance music, hosting the weekly “Control” on Fridays with DJs NTT and Sy-Quest. It was also the site of special showcases, including a performance by the dance act Magnetize on Friday, December 18th, and the “Trilogy” party on Tuesday, December 22nd.

Disco

Located at 69 Light Square, Disco celebrated its 3rd birthday on Saturday, December 19th. Its flagship weekly event was “Thank God It’s Friday,” with resident DJs Major Move and Angelo.

Dance-Tek

This Friday night event at 150 Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton, featured a strong lineup of local talent, including DJs X-Citement, The System AD, Glacia, and Hugh-Z.

The Arena & Proscenium

The Blyth St venue, Proscenium, offered distinct nights. Thursdays at The Arena featured Ringmasters SFI, Eon & E-celerate, while Fridays at Proscenium were headlined by the “Groovedazzlers” HMC & 618.

Other Residencies

Other notable weekly events catering to various tastes included:

• “Grooves ‘n Tunes” at the Austral Hotel every Wednesday.
• Thursday Rage Night at MCM Tonsley.
• Thursday nights at Boltz Bar with G.T.B and H.S.R.

Beyond the packed dancefloors and pulsating sound systems, the machinery of the music industry was in full motion, with awards recognizing global talent, new releases shaping future sounds, and local initiatives creating platforms for the next wave of Adelaide artists.

Industry News and New Music

The world of dance music in late 1992 was dynamic, with new releases, influential figures being celebrated, and local artists being given new platforms. This section covers the awards, tributes, new music, and opportunities that were shaping the industry.

Awards, Tributes, and Global Trends

• DMC Awards: At the annual DMC Awards held in London, C+C’s anthemic track “A Deeper Love” was crowned Tune of the Year. Other notable winners reflected the diversity of the dance music world:
  • Best UK Female: Alison Limerick
  • Best UK Male: Mick Hucknall (of Simply Red)
  • Best International DJ: David Morales and Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley (joint winners)
  • Best Club DJ: Graeme Park
  • Best Rap Act: Arrested Development
• Passing of Larry Levan: The global dance community mourned the loss of pioneering New York DJ Larry Levan, who passed away in November. A true trailblazer, Levan was celebrated for his legendary residency at the Paradise Garage club and his influential production and remix work that helped define the sound of post-disco and early house music.
• New Projects: The formation of a new techno project, Solvotive Mob, featuring Jay Filtram and DJ Sasha, was announced. On the hip hop front, the Red Hot and Rap fundraising album was released, featuring a collaboration of artists including Public Enemy, Ice Cube, and Arrested Development, working to support AIDS and rap projects.

On Rotation: Reviews and Releases

A steady stream of new music was hitting the shelves, catering to every corner of the dance music spectrum.

• Single and Album Reviews: The reviews section highlighted a diverse range of styles. Notable mentions included the Detroit techno of Drexciya (“Deep Sea Dweller”), the hip hop of Australia’s Sound Unlimited Posse (“From The Edge Of The Underdogg”), and the mainstream pop of Michael Jackson (“Heal The World”).
• The Mixing Tapes: For those wanting the club experience at home, six new mix tapes were made available locally through Mushroom Databass. These curated collections featured mixes from top local and international DJs, including Adelaide’s own Groove Terminator and DJ HMC, alongside UK superstar DJ Sasha.
• Hardfloor Release: The influential “Hardtrance Acperience EP” by the German duo Hardfloor was announced for local release. Distributed in Australia by Mushroom, the record was a key release in the burgeoning hard trance genre.

Opportunities for Adelaide Talent

The local scene was not just about consumption; it was also about creation and participation, with several calls to action for Adelaide’s artists and fans.

• The Core EP: In a significant local initiative, Vicious Vinyl Records collaborated with The Core magazine to produce an EP of Adelaide music. A call for submissions was put out, seeking four original dance tracks made in the city. The deadline for demo cassettes was Friday, 29th January 1993, offering a major platform for undiscovered local producers.
• The Best of ’92 Poll: The magazine invited its readers to have their say by voting in “The Best of ’92” poll. Fans could submit their choices for the Top Five Clubs and Top Five Dance Tracks of the year, with the results to be compiled and published in a future issue.
• Writers Wanted: Reflecting its own growth, The Core magazine put out a call for new contributors. The publication was actively seeking new writers with a deep knowledge of the local dance music and club scene to help document its continuing evolution.

As 1992 drew to a close, this snapshot from ‘The Core’ reveals an Adelaide scene brimming with confidence and creative energy. It was a culture defined by a healthy and dynamic tension—one where massive international rave acts and pioneering American hip hop could share the spotlight with a robust, self-sufficient community of local DJs and producers. With new opportunities emerging and a packed schedule of events ringing in the new year, the city’s dance music scene was poised for an even bigger future.