State of Bass: The Origins of Jungle/Drum & Bass

Product Description

As UK government legislation, standardised music and bad drugs forced the euphoria of the rave into the darkness, a new underground movement emerged – jungle/drum & bass.

It was the true sound of the beating heart of 1990s UK. A melting pot of Britain’s multi-cultural urban hardcore rave distilled via the journey from Jamaica’s Tivoli Gardens soundsystem clashes, through the UK’s inner city blues parties and onto jazz-funk all-dayers and soul weekenders. The jungle/drum & bass nexus was like nothing else the world had experienced before.

Drawing on interviews with some of the key figures in the early years, State of Bass explores the scene’s social, cultural and musical roots via the sonic shifts that charted the journey from deep underground to global phenomenon.

Originally published in 1997, State of Bass: The Origins of Jungle/Drum & Bass extends the original text to include the award of the Mercury Prize to Reprazent and brings new perspectives to the story of the UK’s most crucial subterranean scene.

Review

“The best book so far on the evolution of drum & bass.” —
Sheryl Garratt, Adventures in Wonderland: A Decade of Club Culture

“…an in-depth examination of Jungle’s roots, history, plus a recommended listening guide.” —
MUZIK

“One of 20 essential 20th Century music books.” –Select Magazine

“Essential reading for anyone who is interested not only in the jungle scene… but in dance in general, in the music industry as a whole or even British society and its infrastructures.”
–DJ

About the Author

Martin James is an internationally published music critic who has contributed to many of the world’s leading music magazines and newspapers. He has written several acclaimed books about electronic music including We Eat Rhythm, the definitive biography of The Prodigy. Martin is Professor of Creative and Cultural Industries at Solent University, Southampton where he lectures on underground electronic music cultures.