4-beat
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4-beat is a modified variance of happy hardcore that can be traced back to late 1993. Normally void of traditional 4/4 signature kick drums, as found in most dance drum beats, Happy hardcore's rhythm compliment was centred around sped-up (and increasingly more complex cut) breakbeats with low harmonic bass lines additionally dictating the flow of the beat, much similar to jungle.
During late 1993 and progressively more through the coming years, a kick drum started to find its way into happy hardcore compositions. Several record labels would also sport a 4-beat logo on their label design to signify its genre modification.
The breakbeats and bass lines would become less prominent through time until they mostly phased out in favour for heavy or sometimes distorted kick drums and offbeat single keyed bass lines stabs, not dissimilar to a Bouncy techno pattern, most noticeable around 1996.
This may be in part that the records of these different genres could be played together seamlessly in DJ mix sets due to common similarities in tempos and samples. DJ's, who were mostly producers of these records could easily interpret the crowd reactions and instantly recognize what was working on the dance floor.
Also it was also not uncommon for several bouncy techno or comparable styled gabber tunes to feature on popular happy hardcore filled compilation records (Various Artists - Happy Anthems Volume 3 (Rumour Records, RAID 526, 1995)) and later for some artists of these different genres to collaborate with productions and remixes.
The happy element of uplifting strings, pianos and female sampled vocals was mostly retained through its transition but by 1998 the scene had become very commercial with over-the-top vocal cover versions of old Pop music records. Sadly, many people left the scene at this time and it was much diminished.
After going back underground, the scene has slowly flourished even out with the boundaries of the UK and has several new terminologies for its ever-progressing movement, most of a 4/4 nature. The term 4-beat is therefore no longer used in today's context, as there is little to differentiate it with.
Related elements of that time include Essential Platinum, Happy Trax, Impact, Man From Uncle Records and United Dance Recordings record labels along with artists Brisk, DJ Dougal, DJ Hixxy, DJ Seduction, DJ Sy, Slipmatt and UFO.