Description
“Tribal Life” is a track well known for being played by Derrick May and others!
Two classics from Toronto’s Strobe Records are reissued by Clone Classic Cuts. This is an important release that shows how the Canadian scene, which often gets overshadowed by Detroit and New York, was developing its own unique sound.
The Hayden Andre Project (an alias of producer Ron Allen) combines tribal rhythms with the emotional, machine-driven grooves of early Detroit techno. This deep house track blends raw percussion with restrained development, creating a sound that is both tense and elegant. Its minimalist yet organic structure still has the power to move club floors 30 years later.
On the B side, Kingdom Come sees Ron Allen showcase his talents once again. The sound, woven from warm pads, piano, and swinging drums, evokes the soulful house of New York’s golden era while carrying a distinctly mellow Toronto sensibility. Combining the euphoria of deep house with the swing of garage, this sound perfectly captures the joy of a 3 a.m. peak-time set.
Detroit, New York, and Toronto—this release captures the energy of the early ’90s, when boundaries between cities dissolved and music flowed freely across them. A missing piece of North American house history that deserves to be remembered as a classic.
A1. The Hayden Andre Project – Broken Chains
A2. The Hayden Andre Project – Tribal Life (Hardcore Mix)
B1. Kingdom Come – Groovy Baby
B2. Kingdom Come – Jungle Bliss
Two foundational releases from Toronto's Strobe Records get a well-deserved reissue on the Clone Classic Cuts series, spotlighting a pivotal moment in North American dance music. While often overshadowed by the Detroit and New York scenes, Toronto's underground in the early '90s was brewing its own potent blend of house and techno - and these tracks are prime examples of that cross-border synergy. The Hayden Andre Project's contributions sit at the perfect intersection of tribal house rhythms and the emotive, machine-driven pulse of early Detroit techno. There's a raw elegance here - a sense of deep groove layered with just the right amount of percussive tension. It's no surprise that these tracks became staples in the crates of DJs both then and now. The production feels timeless, with hypnotic arrangements that still command the floor over three decades later. On the flip, Kingdom Come, another alias of Ron Allen, delivers lush, blissed-out house music that channels the soulful energy of New York's golden era while adding a uniquely Canadian sensibility. Allen's piano work, layered with warm pads and swinging drums, gives these tracks an unmistakable vibe - equal parts deep house ecstasy and garage swagger. It's the sound of 3 a.m. euphoria, of packed dance floors and emotional peaks. This reissue not only shines a light on the underrated Toronto scene but also remind us just how global and interconnected house music was becoming in the early '90s. For both collectors and newcomers, these are essential cuts - testaments to a moment when boundaries between cities and styles were blurred in the name of dance.
