Heres a transcription of an Article which appeared
in the NME Last week, thought people would be
interested.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PNEUMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE.
INTRODUCING...
Jungle's snotty nosed, badly behaved cousin
DRILL'N'BASS
WHOA! REACH FOR THE EARPLUGS!
Certainly. Drill'n'bass is faster, more cut up and
abrasive than drum'n'bass - that's the idea.
WHO'S MAKING IT?
A new generation of Left-field Techno bods, people
like Wafta and Animals on Wheels on fledgling indie
labels like Spymania, Bovinyl, as well as the faves
like Aphex Twin, Alec Empire and Squarepusher.
WHO STARTED IT?
Old Richard D James, aka Aphex Twin of course. The
insanely cut-to-ribbons hardcore of his low-key
'Hangable Autobulb' EP (out on Warp last summer)
is widely recognised as the first drill'n'bass
record.
THAT u-ZIQ GEEZER DIDNT HAVE A HAND IN IT THEN?
Yes and no. The Drill'n'bass tag first turned up on
a press release for his new double pack 'Urmer Bile',
but has since been picked up as a generic Description
for Jungles nastier experimental mutations. But the
u-Ziq maker's denying all knowledge. "I dont know
where the names' come from," he says, "it's just
experimental drum'n'bass to me, but i do suppose all
those snare rollsdo sound a bi like pneumatic drills"
HES TAKING THE PISS SURELY?
No, but most of his drilling contemporaries probably
are. At least, most of the drill'n'bass records to
emerge so far wield an eccentric sense of humour lacking
in techno and mainstream drum'n'bass.
Hardy of Wafta, who also runs funny Jungle label Spymania,
says: "Itsa reaction to all that po-faced techno business
thats been going on for the past five years, all that
serious trainspotting and standing there, nodding your
head in clubs.
BUT ISNT IT JUST JUNGLE IN NEW CLOTHES?
Wafta's Hardy insists it isnt. "As far as our stuff being
influenced by Jungle, thats rubbish," he states. "Ive never
really listened to it. Its more of a Techno thing, just a
new way of using breakbeats." For Squarepusher, aka Tom
Jenkinson, it's even simpler than that. "Its just a
contrast thing, taking some really manic drums and then
sticking a really smooth piano over the top and having a
laugh with it, surprising people."
PRIME EXAMPLES OF SAID MANIC POP DRILLS?
Aphex's 'Hangable Autobulb' EP and his 'Richard D James' LP
Squarepushers 'Feed me wierd things' album and 'Urmer Bile'
for starters, plus anything on the waywardly consistent
Spymania Imprint.
MORE IN THE PIPELINE?
New singles from Whippersnappers Dial, Elton Fastbrook
on Spymania (rumours abound of Barry Pseudonym output too),
the second Squarepusher album, expected on Warp this summer
and already the cause of much excited mumbling on the
Underground.
Plus a compilation of Left-Field Drillers from Aphex to Wafta,
Horse Opera to Squarepusher currently being constructed by
Mike Paradinas for a major release through Vigin.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hardy at Spymania still has a few copies of
the first ever Squarepusher record Stereotype for
sale, contact : <loozerz@mistral.co.uk>
kF