Here's an interesting text on jungle's "Darkside" (and
the Star Wars trilogy :) Stevvi of Circuit 8 pointed to me
from the UK-Dance list; I thought it would be some
interesting food for thought for IDMers too. Apologies
however that I can't give you the credits for the original
writer, whoever s/he was...
Well, let it be said that basically I agree with what the guy/gal
says here, but I'd also like to emphasize the "energy" part
of music. Basically all good music is something to me that will
give me the *energy*, whether I can go through my negative,
aggressive,"dark" side through it (yes, the "cathartic"
experience, at least for me), or if it only gives me energy
through raising purely positive, good, "light" feelings in me.
So the both approaches work for me, the other in some
situations better than the other. What do you think of this?
-ER
----- [Forwarded text] -----
So, what exactly is the darkside?
A word (obviously). A word that's bubbled up over the past couple of
years to describe something that can't be expressed otherwise.
Moreover, a word that (in true junglist style) has been *sampled* from
an outside source, ie Star Wars.
There is no formal definition of "darkside": it's a word that junglists
have picked up on because it captures something intangible - something
that could be described as the essence of jungle, or the essence of
all truly great music.
Here's a sketch of what it means to me - note that I'm not claiming
any authority for my interpretation of the word, just offering up one
possible way of looking at things.
Going back to Star Wars, the darkside is what makes Darth Vader the
key character in the trilogy. Note that the darkside is *not* the same
as the Empire: Darth is as much an outsider from the Empire's military
machine as he is from the Rebel Federation.
Darth towers above the other characters in Star Wars. He is an outcast
from both the Jedi Knights and the Empire. He follows his own path,
acts in accordance to his own code of honour, reports to no-one. His
one loyalty is to the Emperor - and even that is temporary, severed by
the end of the trilogy.
Above all, Darth is ambiguous, beyond good and evil. Despite being
superficially a bad guy, you have nothing but respect and awe for him.
He is dedicated. He is intense. He does not compromise.
To me, the darkside in jungle is about that intensity. Darkness
doesn't simply mean "moodiness" or "aggression" or "urban paranoia".
Sure, many dark trax are moody, paranoid etc - but the darkness can
also be uplifting and joyous. It's the intensity that matters, the
attitude. Darkness is not about where you come from or where you're
going, but how you get there.
Another parallel: darkside jungle is always ambiguous. Take the
moodiest, most paranoid jungle trax - there's always a flipside, a
subtle contradiction built in.
I remember the first time I heard Zinc's "Super Sharp Shooter" (spun
by Hype at the late lamented Paradise): the crowd went mental, people
were jumping up and down for joy, turning to random strangers and
chatting excitedly to them, grinning stupidly at each other.
The track itself might seem moody and aggressive, but the reaction was
everything you'd expect from a cheesy luvved-up rave anthem. There's
an self-awareness that goes on in jungle, a tacit understanding that
words/sounds don't necessarily mean what they say. (This, by the way,
was what I was getting at a few weeks ago when I was going on about
the "abstract" nature of darkside jungle.)
Conversely, the most uplifting and celebratory jungle tunes always
have a strain of melancholy built into them (eg Ray Keith's "Sing
Time" or Omni Trio's "Thru The Vibe"). This is what marks out
"happy-dark" jungle (and the deepest darkest house) from much of the
rest of the dance scene. The happiness is real, solid, not some fake
drugged-up plur cliche.
So, turning to the flame war brewing between Stuart B and Tony Tone
Def: chill out, guys - you're *both* right.
Specifically, Stuart says (UKD 1579):
quoted 3 lines One of the defining characteristics of jungle/d&b is its darkness.
> One of the defining characteristics of jungle/d&b is its darkness.
> Jungle's not just about fast break beats; take away the darkside,
> and you ain't got jungle.
And Tony counters (UKD 1580):
quoted 6 lines I have taken [friends] to a Jungle only event and they have been
> I have taken [friends] to a Jungle only event and they have been
> amazed that it was nothing like they had expected. Uplifting Amen
> breaks that just make want to you dance with other people there who
> are appreciating the music for what it is. Many of my friends have
> come away saying that the atmosphere had outdone even the best HH
> events that they had been to for excitement and good vibes.
There's no contradiction here unless you take the narrow attitude that
darkness = negative/moody/aggressive/paranoid. I don't think that's
what darkness is about, and that's why I'm quite happy to describe
certain trax as both dark *and* uplifting/exciting/joyous/happy.
I realise much of what I've said appears self-contradictory and a bit
tripped-out ... but listen to a track like Scorpio's "My Style From
The Darkside" and you'll begin to catch my drift. Even better, head to
Lee Billingham's party on 3 August and see it for yourself at first
hand.
----- [End of forwarded text] -----
oNNow: Plug - Drum'n'Bass For Papa
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