DANCE ON CD: Greg Bowes
JUNGLE music, currently more fashionably known as drum’n’bass, a style born in the United Kingdom of the remnants of hardcore rave, dub reggae and jazz, has yet to achieve the mainstream success so eagerly predicted. This is particularly true in South Africa where support for its broken beats and booming basslines is limited to a few underground fundis from across the racial spectrum.
But all this may change soon as musicians not usually associated with the dance scene – including David Bowie and Everything But The Girl, and closer to home, Urban Creep’s Brendan Jury and Gaston Goliath – begin fiddling with its intricate rhythms.
With Sony Music SA about to release a compilation of classic breakbeats from the Sour label, and lounges and bars like Jo’burg’s Next and 2O6, and Cape Town’s The Funktion hosting jungle evenings, the future for this oft misunderstood genre looks bright.
The friendliest introduction to its sounds and some of its major players can be found on the Quango Sport CD (Island). The cuts selected come from a period when “ambient” jungle was at its zenith and they lean toward the gentler strains favoured by the likes of Alex Reece. He has two numbers showcased here: a remix of Tricky’s Brand New You’re Retro, which is a delicious collision of indie rock and phat, fast beats, and the classic Feel the Sunshine, which is like Bjrk on Prozac.
Also outstanding are remixes of acid jazz outfits by Kid Loops, DJ Krust and Roni Size, and Adam F’s huge jungle anthem Circles. These are all smoothly whipped together for a non-stop, soft-stepping and jazzy journey.
Suspect Package (Kickin’) also contains some classics, this time from the overlooked Hard Leaders label, which are far fiercer in comparison. Contributions from Dillinja, Capone and Source Direct have more in common with gangster rap’s brutality than jazz pleasantry. Jam-packed with apocalyptic voices and sirens, big bass swoops and relentless drums, this disc is a thoroughly rough and scary ride.
Breakbeat Science 2 is the most comprehensive survey of the current scene. Following on its radical predecessor it again marries equal amounts of fury and fluidity. Of the two CDs the first is tougher, and includes highly inventive excursions from T Power and J Majik. There’s some light relief on disc two from Klute, Endemic Void and Justice, before it plays out with Genocide 2’s dubby hip-hop joint. It’s a double disc of savage breaks that includes gems that illustrate why this trend is being touted as the soundtrack to the next millennium.