09 Feb 05
1
I was listening to a jungle remix of The Perfect Drug by Nine Inch Nails, when I realized that jungle artists can carry phrases with their beats instead of the samples. Since most of the sound in drum and bass comes from the way the DJ plays with an alternating kick drum/snare breakbeat, the (more discernible) emphasis shifts to the style of the beat rather than the singer or melody. By syncopating the breakbeat for a few bars in a row, the final bar can have no syncopation and give closure to the phrase. Genius.

