This Old Mixtape: DJ Overload- Smiling Faces (1992)

Classic mix set recorded by DJ Overload when he was living in Boston. Regarded as one of the very first drum and bass DJ’s in the area, this tape reaches back even before it’s birth to showcase a nice palette of dancefloor jams, feel-good piano house, and techno.

On side A of this tape we see a small touch of breakbeats in a time when drum and bass music was still several years out and breakbeat hardcore music was slowly starting to migrate it’s way across the Atlantic from the U.K. There are many hands-in-the-air house and techno tracks included here as well which actually blend nicely with the breakbeats. Side B slows the tempo down a bit, pushing the breakbeats aside after a couple of experimental opening rhythms in favor of feel-good house, a few rave anthems (piano included), even some borderline trance towards the end. The squelchy 303 lead and reece basslines make guest appearances throughout.

Special thanks to Hilary for sending this over to me, it’s been in her personal collection for many years! I cannot say when this tape came out, but from the sounds of it, probably 1991-92. If anyone has more mixsets they would like to share from the 1990s, by all means definitely let me know. I can honestly admit that I’ve been struggling to find tapes to add here as many have been lost/discarded, and also there are very few people active in the scene today who were old enough to be involved way back in the early-mid 1990s. 

Soundcloud links below. 

 DJ Overload-Smiling Faces (Side A) by beantownboogiedown

DJ Overload-Smiling Faces (Side B) by beantownboogiedown

Comments

[Jim]

Hey,
I remember seeing Overload at the loft back in the '90's. I still have a tape I bought from him called Meditation, though the sound quality hasn't kept up through the years. Any idea how I can get a hold of that set again? Does he have a website or something? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim