909rewind Vol. 7… Caspar Pound
Welcome to 909rewind, a new series from 909originals that delves into the early careers of some of dance music’s biggest names, uncovering hidden gems and familiar classics from the archives.
We dive into an artist’s back catalogue to uncover rare singles, albums, productions, remixes and more… the tracks that helped shape their sound and set them on the path to legendary status.
This week, we explore the back catalogue of a visionary producer and label owner who is sadly no longer with us: Caspar Pound.
Hailing from Peterborough, Pound’s star ascended swiftly following the 1990 release of Total Confusion under the guise of A Homeboy, A Hippie & A Funki Dredd (alongside Marc Williams and Tony Winter), when he was just 19. He followed that up with a series of killer cuts under the pseudonym The Hypnotist, released on his newly-established Rising High Records… with the label’s output memorably described as ‘Faceless Techno Bollocks’ on an official t-shirt.
Rising High would become one of the most influential British dance labels of the 90s, providing a home for rave, techno and ambient artists ranging from Luke Vibert to Hardfloor to Mixmaster Morris.
Pound’s business acumen saw Rising High license the Harthouse label to the UK, introducing British ravers to European trance, while it also saw the debut UK release for Detroit techno masters Underground Resistance.
As well as his own productions, Pound was an accomplished remixer, lending his skills to Sven Väth’s My Name Is Barbarella, Union Jack’s Two Full Moons and a Trout, The Shamen’s Pro-Gen, and a myriad of other classic tracks.
Here at 909originals, a guilty pleasure of ours is his cheeky release under the name V.I.M., Maggie’s Last Party, which samples former PM Margaret Thatcher waxing lyrical about “acid parties”… comedy rave gold.
Sadly, in April 2004, Pound passed away at the age of just 33, due to heart complications. But with a body of work that includes classics such as Rainbows in the Sky, Night of the Living E-Heads, Hardcore U Know The Score, and of course, The House Is Mine (all of which are included in our 909rewind playlist), he continues to be cited as a key figurehead in the formative years of dance music.
RIP Caspar, and thanks for all the beats.
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