History
UK hard house is the product of DJs at the now-defunct Trade gay club in London developing a unique style of fast house music. Hard house took the driving beat from eurodance, removed a lot of the whimsical and emotional elements like epic never-ending climaxes, and added simple elements like short drops with no drums, hard bass stabs and quirky samples. Hard house gained a large following within the UK, but globally didn’t reach a huge audience.
Influences
At its core, UK hard house is a sped-up and more intense incarnation of eurodance. It could also be described as techno with a bit more melody.
Sound
The perfect soundtrack for driving at breakneck speeds, UK hard house is less uplifting that most forms of house. With a darker edge and relentless beat, UK hard house music is highly repetitive and features intense breakdowns and tight drum rolls. It all adds up to a rushing, pounding sound that always seems on the brink of breaking loose.
JX – “Son of a Gun”
Brighton, 1994
JX’s “Son of a Gun” is an early example of hard house. The result is a driving, dancey tune without the edge that later developed in the genre.
Tony de Vit – “Are You All Ready”
Manchester, 1996
The godfather of hardhouse lays it down. Tony de Vit is credited with helping establish the popularity of hard house in mainstream clubs.
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