Inspired by the Where Were you in '93 thread we had a while back, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at another year that decade: 1997
Some great albums were released that year, was it the best year for long players in the 90s? Homework, Dig Your Own Hole, The Fat Of The Land, Homogenic, New Forms, Vanishing Point, Portishead, Baduizm. Then outside of the electronic music sphere you had Urban Hymns, OK Computer, Wu Tang Forvever, Mogwai, Supergrass, Spiritualized… That’s quite the line up in a calendar before you even get to Blur, Oasis, Missy Elliot and Biggie. Even Bowie, McCartney and Bob Dylan released albums in '97.
In clubs I think the landscape was changing rapidly. The Superclub thing had reached its peak and was looking tired. The US house and garage sound of the previous few years was also fading, and the Brits were representing hard: Nuphonic, Paper, Filter, DiY, Glasgow Underground and Pagan were some of the labels I recall trying to put out forward thinking club music.
In the South West drum & bass and beats had a really strong, emerging scene. Some of you guys can attest better of what was happening in London but I think Rooty had started by then? I can’t speak to what was happening in Scotland either but I know Optimo started at the Sub Club in 1997.
Personally speaking I was yet to move out of home but was making regular trips over to Basics in Leeds, Robodisco in Manchester and Chris Duckenfield’s Scuba night in Sheffield. Also made my first trip to Glastonbury, the infamous deluge year when the stages sank and the dance tent got covered in faeces.
What are your memories of that year, and what were you listening to ? 
busy couple of years for us there, also Motorbass, Saint Germain, Jurassic 5, E dancer , Inner City, Mr Oizo and many more. Which I’m sure will come to me. I got so sick of Super Discount i probably would of been happy never to hear it again, still have the mug though…
