Destelbergen Belgium, 1988. At the diamond-shaped Boccaccio club, djs fused the electronic pulse of EBM with acid house grooves from the US and slowed down unlikely records to forge a unique sound. Belgian new beat was born and would go on to become an international phenomenon. The local clubs pushing the style attracted visitors from all over the continent. Smiley faces, hood ornaments and headstone portraits were the fashion order of the day. A young Serge Ramaekers started playing records at Highstreet in Hoogstraaten - indeed, that's where Belgian football player Gert Verheyen met his first wife. At the time, every self respecting discotheque ordered their own theme song. And who better than Serge, a bright young resident dj and aspiring producer, to produce the track to present Highstreet to the world? 'Revolution', co-produced together with his musical partner Dominic Sas, hit the scene, doing exactly what it said on the sleeve: soundtracking the new beat revolution. Exemplary for its influences, the track was pressed up in three incarnations: a new beat, house and acid version. The package was released on both 12 and 7 inch format but never saw a digital release. We're happy to add this original piece of new beat history to the Cashminus catalogue now, including a 'Gert Verheyen Extension' that brings out the best of the three original mixes. And Serge? He recently set up his new home studio in his Brasschaat, Belgium home, so who knows what sounds will emerge from there in the near future?
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