Housey Doingz – Ride EP

Housey Doingz – Ride EP

The Housey Doingz – Ride EP is a sought-after piece of late-1990s UK underground house music, originally released in 1997 on Pagan Records as catalogue PAGAN 007. The four-track 12" captures the stripped-back, groove-heavy sound of the London house underground just as the foundations of what would become known as UK tech house were taking shape.

Housey Doingz was a collective of influential London producers including Terry Francis, Nathan Coles, Laurant Webb, Dave Coker and Justin Bailey, whose productions helped define the raw, funky and deeply rhythmic side of 1990s British club music. Their music drew on American house and techno, dub bass and the stripped-down sensibilities of labels such as Relief and Cajual, while developing a distinctly British late-night club sound.

The EP opens with “Ride”, a hypnotic, groove-led production built around tight house drums, understated synth textures and a weighty bassline. “Rim” follows in similarly stripped-back fashion, demonstrating the group's ability to create maximum dancefloor impact from relatively minimal ingredients.

On the B-side, “Naff Off” and “Naff On” continue the EP's rough-edged, funk-driven approach. These are tracks designed for the club rather than the pop charts, with the spacious arrangements and emphasis on rhythm giving them the timeless quality that has helped Housey Doingz records remain popular with DJs and collectors decades after their original release.

The subsequent history of the material is a testament to its enduring reputation. “Ride” and “Naff Off” were included on the 2024 A Sillybration II compilation, alongside other Housey Doingz recordings from the 1990s. Sushitech described the collection as bringing together sought-after tracks and milestone classics, noting that many of the original Housey Doingz productions had only appeared on limited vinyl pressings and had become expensive on the second-hand market.

For collectors of 90s UK house, tech house, deep house and underground dance music, the original Pagan 12" is particularly appealing. Ride EP offers an early glimpse of the sound that would become increasingly influential through the work of Housey Doingz members and the wider London scene, making this a strong original pressing for fans of Terry Francis, Nathan Coles, Wiggle-era house and classic UK tech house.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Ride
2. Rim

Side B

1. Naff Off
2. Naff On