Noise Factory were an English
breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore (also referred to as hardcore rave or oldskool hardcore) is a music genre of the very early 1990s that spawned from the UK rave scene. It combines four-on-the-floor rhythms with breakbeats usually sampled from hip hop. In ...
and
jungle
A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century.
Etymology
The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅ ...
group active in the early 1990s. The group is credited as being pivotal in the transition between hardcore and jungle music.
History
DJ James Stephens went to Paul Ibiza of Ibiza Records' house to set up a newly acquired
Akai 950 sampler
Sampler may refer to:
* Sampler (signal), a digital signal processing device that converts a continuous signal to a discrete signal
* Sampler (needlework), a handstitched piece of embroidery used to demonstrate skill in needlework
* Sampler (surna ...
. After a session of creating beats, Stephens decided to call himself 'Noise Factory', later bringing Terry Turner into the group. Ibiza invited Stephens to use the Ibiza Records label, as it was an established name at the time. Noise Factory released its first track, "Box Bass" in 1991. The track featured a
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
sub-bass, which was almost unheard of at the time.
After working for the Ibiza label, Stephens helped to set up his own labels ''Kemet Records'' and ''3rd Party Records'' in 1992 with old friend Mark Rangers, known as "Mark X".
Noise Factory opened the ''3rd Party'' label with the
EP "My Mind" featuring its title track, “Be Free", and "Breakage #1" which would be pivotal in the early development of
jungle
A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century.
Etymology
The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅ ...
and would be later remixed by the group several times.
The group would continue to release
singles
Singles are people not in a committed relationship.
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Film and television
* ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series
* ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe
* ''Singles'' ...
such as "Set Me Free", which sampled
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac were founded by guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer, before bassist John McVie joined the line-up for their epony ...
's "
Sara
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Arts, media and entertainment Film and television
* ''Sara'' (1992 film), 1992 Iranian film by Dariush Merhjui
* ''Sara'' (1997 film), 1997 Polish film starring Bogusław Linda
* ''Sara'' (2010 film), 2010 Sri Lankan Sinhal ...
".
In 1993, "The Capsule" EP was released. The track "Breakage #4" became a huge hit with DJ's, who according to
Vice
A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tra ...
"played it to death".
The track was up to 20
BPM faster than other tracks at the time, and would prove to be an important record in the transition from hardcore to jungle.
Noise Factory proceeded to release several
12" singles that would set a blueprint for the emerging scene.
Additionally, a side project known as ''Straight from the Bedroom'' was launched, releasing records from not only themselves, but also other up-and-coming jungle producers.
The final collaboration between Stephens and Turner would be on "Dreams", released on Kemet Records' "Revelation Part 2" EP. Stephens would maintain a solo career under the name ''Family of Intelligence''.
Noise Factory was briefly revived in 2002, releasing two singles for Three Lions Recordings.
Additionally, Terry Tee had resurrected the Straight From the Bedroom side-project in the 2000s to carry
nu skool jungle
bootlegs.
Members
*James Stephens
*Terry (Tee) Turner
*Kevin Mulqueen
Selected discography
*"Box Bass / Recession Time" (1991)
*"Who Are You / The Dungeon" (1991)
*"Noise Factory / Warehouse Music" (1991)
*"The Buzz / Imperative" (1991)
*"Loving You / Jungle Techno" (1991)
*"Feel The Music / To The Top" (1991)
*"Set Me Free / Bring Forward The Noise" (1992)
*"We Have It / Warning" (1992)
*"Urban Music" (1992)
*"Behold The Jungle / We Can" (1992)
*"My Mind / Be Free" (1992)
*"The Fire / Skin Teeth" (1992)
*"Alienation EP" (1992)
*"The Capsule EP (Breakage#4 / Futuroid / Survival)" (1992)
*"Year of the Ladies EP" (1993)
*"A New Something EP" (1993)
*"Generation X" (1993)
*"Can You Feel The Rush / Run Come Follow Me" (1993)
*"The Future" (1994)
References
Further reading
*
External links
James Stephens on DiscogsNoise Factory discography at DiscogsTerry Turner on Discogs
{{Authority control
English dance music groups
Breakbeat hardcore music groups
English electronic music groups
Remixers