The Red Bulletin September 2019 (UK)

PLAYLIST
Welcome
to the
Jungle
Drum-and-bass titans Chase
& Status revisit four tracks
that helped shape their career
When jungle hit the UK rave
scene in the early ’90s, it was
the deep, dub-like basslines
and echoes of Jamaican reggae
culture that set the genre apart
from other breakbeat-driven
derivatives. This was also one
of the reasons why Londoners
Saul Milton and Will Kennard
fell in love with the music as
teenagers. Today they’re
better known as Chase & Status
– arguably the world’s most
successful drum-and-bass act
– and on their latest album,
RTRN II JUNGLE, the duo
(pictured with ‘third member’
MC Rage, left) pay homage to
the genre. Here, they list four
jungle/drum-and-bass tunes
that sparked their passion…
Listen to Chase & Status’
Fireside Chat on Red Bull Radio
on Mixcloud; mixcloud.com
DAN WILTON FLORIAN OBKIRCHER
DMS & The Boneman X
Sweet Vibrations (1994)
Milton: “One of the earliest [jungle]
tunes that caught my attention.
Everything about it – the drums,
the percussion, the dancehall
vocals they sampled – sounded
so different to anything I’d heard
before. This is what jungle did so
well back then: you’d just have loads
of different vibes on one track,
which either didn’t make any sense
or made perfect sense, like in the
case of this tune.”
PFM
One & Only (1995)
Kennard: “In the mid ’90s, Good
Looking Records dominated the
jungle scene, particularly the more
atmospheric style that people at the
time called ‘liquid’. PFM were a group
on that label and had a string of
groundbreaking releases. On this
track they’re using pads, samples
and strings, which was really
cutting-edge and sort of led into
what Goldie was doing with [his
drum-and-bass label] Metalheadz.”
Adam F
Circles (1995)
Milton: “It was around 1996 when
I heard this tune for the first time.
It would have been on a pirate radio
station, and the track shaped my
youth. Whereas other jungle tunes
use reggae or dancehall elements
to go deep, Adam F maintained this
vibe with lavish pads and playful
percussion. Consequently, it
became a timeless classic that
works on the radio as well as at
a rave at three in the morning.”
Leviticus
Burial (1994)
Kennard: “This tune has become
synonymous with jungle and has
one of the genre’s most recognised
hooks. What makes it so legendary
is the use of lots of different samples
to create something new and unique.
The producer behind it, Jumping
Jack Frost, is an absolute legend
and a pioneer of the genre. I just
finished reading his book, in which
he talks about his musical journey.
Highly recommended.”
THE RED BULLETIN 17