The UK's D. Bridge will be spinning the sounds of the underground at Apocalypse Now tomorrow when JungleMania puts onBad Company, a showpiece night of drum `n' bass -- one of the subgenres of dance music that wasn't popular when it was first conceived and probably never will be. It's just too dark. So dark, in fact, it had to be renamed.
In the old skool days (the early 1990s), what was then called "jungle" was played by DJs like Micky Finn and Kenny Ken, who played an uncompromising brand of house music shorn of all the pretty bits and full of complex beats and electronics. Since the music was played in black urban areas (the jungle), a toast master or MC used to take the mic and control the dance.
Stabbings, shootings, crack cocaine, women in little black dresses and gangstas swaying to the beat at the back of the hall were features of these types of parties. The record companies had a problem selling the music because of its shady associations (partly) and came up with what they termed drum `n' bass, or "intelligent" jungle music.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
This stripped-down and more melodic sound found its purest expression in the work of Omni Trio, Goldie and more recently Krust and Shy FX.
Even party organizer and drum `n' bass convert FunkStar said most Taiwanese either didn't know what the music is, or find it too hard to listen too. "I think it's gonna stay underground. There's almost no crew but our drum `n' bass parties. Most people here like the big-name sounds and people and don't really enjoy the local DJs. Drum 'n' bass is kind of a bit too serious."
Joining D. Bridge on stage will be MC Assassin (who won the master of ceremonies title in Oz two years running), along with local heroes FunkStar, Danjah, Posan and Spikey.
If urban mayhem is not your thang and lurve is, check out Screw you, nut me, tomorrow at Bacchus in Warner Village. "Women get a screw. Men each get one nut. Find a perfect match and both of you get a free drink."
For more "gangsta shit" check out DJ Fingaz who's breaking out the old skool hip hop at Partyroom tonight and Plush tomorrow (both on the 12th floor at Core Pacific shopping mall).
On the subject of old skool, last weekend -- like everyone else -- I trooped down to Luxy for Pete Tong and Dave Seaman. The music was good, but after getting on stage and close to the DJs I was struck by a fact. Superstar DJs invariably seem to come from the UK. Typically they are middle-aged, have no hair and are putting on the pounds around their middles. I don't mind because: One, it doesn't matter what they look like, it's how they sound, right? Two, I now look a superstar DJ.
But I wondered what those under 30 saw as they looked up at the DJ booth and saw these figures bouncing around like teddy bears on acid, havingperfected that "I'm-a-DJ-concentrating" look with their hands clamped over their headphones.
In the US and Europe the top DJs are proof that dance music has already become mature. Here it's still a new sound, at least 10 years behind. Which is good for the old skool brigades, I guess.
The Vinyl Word: Rewind!
For your information:
Apocalypse Now: 323, Fuxing N Rd, Taipei
(
Doors open at 8:30pm till late, NT$600 in advance, NT$800 at door (with one drink).
Call (02) 2545 4628.
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