Trip

Item: Cultural Shift
Author: Justin W. Jones

Cultural Shift

(1999)

Reviewed by Justin W. Jones

Discogs YouTube

Label N*Soul RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1999

ambient drum and bass electronic

You hear it on late night radio programs, you hear it in between songs on the radio, you hear it in commercials, and it's spreading faster than a juicy rumor.. I'm talking about jungle/drum and bass. This genre of the dance scene is one of the fastest growing styles of music in the secular market. It's invaded the UK, and is slowly taking on the U.S.A. But one thing it's not doing is flooding the Christian market, so when a full length album comes out, it's a big step. Most people are ska-loyal, and hardcore listeners, and when the term "dance music" is mentioned, they think of radio house and cheesy sirens. But this is jungle, not house.

Jungle is the "rude boy" music from the U.K. It started in the underground rave scene, and draws its influence from jazz, reggae, and hip-hop. It is mainly a scene, rather than a genre. Its artists try their best to keep it underground, which is why most people aren't too familiar with it. Most artists would rather keep it real than sell out for a cut of the profit.

But what does it sound like? Just imagine somebody speeding up a jazz drum track, mixing that with a dark distorted bass line, and then overlaying that with a dark, smooth chord progression on the synth.... Then you are playing in the jungle. It is basically techno jazz for the next generation and the antitype of house music.

This group from the UK is comprised of Andy Hunter and Martin King, and they know what they are doing. This album has everything from intelligent drum and bass (reminiscent of LTJ Bukem's "Logical Progression") to dark jungle (typical of any jungle room in the West Coast) to a song that uses a real stand up bass (like Roni Size). And even though the styles are similar to others, the sound isn't, and they deserve props for originality.

Along with the musical depth, there is a vocal display of talent. Tanya Farthing does some guest vocals, and has a very soothing voice, but that is only showcased for a short time. Instrumental stuff seems to be Trip's forte.

The first half of the album features the softer songs. They're more of a drum and bass section of Cultural Shift. The melodies are more light hearted and the rhythms are not as intense as the second half. But once the second part of the album gets going, the pace and intensity of Cultural Shift increase dramatically. This half of the album is darker and more textured. The melodies are eerie and are mixed well with the rhythms for a good balance.

I found the track "Dark Storm" to be the best track on the album. It starts out with a simple 4/4 beat and then goes crazy. The distorted yelling and dark bass create a frenzy for the dance floor, and showcases a sound that made jungle famous. The sped up drum tracks feel at home when coupled with a synth. It's a good combination, like milk and cereal, or Moses and Aaron.

Trip has excellent keyboard skills and they use them quite often. Their attention spent on melody is what made a good album a great album. The light synths with the dark bass produce a bittersweet sound that is catching, and not too repetitive.

There are one or two tracks that were so-so, but none that are bad. At times, you may think a track is going soft, but a listen all the way through will show you that you are wrong. They are so progressive that what you hear at the beginning isn't what you get at the end.

This album was first brought to my attention over a year ago in a newsletter/catalogue, but it was never released here. Instead, it was released in the UK. The songs are all copyrighted in 1997, but that doesn't mean the tracks are dated. In fact, Cultural Shift is as caught up with the rest of the market as it could be. Anyone interested in something different, but exciting to the ear should get this album. Take my advice, take a Trip.

4.5 tocks