Re: (idm) Red Snapper, Japanese style

From FreyGuy
Sent Wed, Aug 5th 1998, 14:56

Geoffrey Langham wrote:

>   Is Red Snapper really the "live drum&bass" band that Warp says it is?  I heard the WAP100 song and it didn't really fit that description.  I think the site said that the "bundle of energy on drums proved you could play live d&b."  If anyone can verify or discount this it would be appreciated.

No.  This description of "live drum and bass" is the least fitting I've ever heard.
    Red Snapper has _nothing_ to do with Drum N Bass.  I think it may be a lame warp attempt at cashing in on DnB's mass acceptance.  However, RedSnapper, for me, is a fusion of a live jazz sound with "classy" hiphop/tr*phop beats (at times).  Some of their songs are very driving while others are quite
moody.  Their sound has a definite live feel due to their method of studio work and the use of live instrumention.  The most prevelent live sound in the music is the use of the baritone (and other) sax, live drumming (in conjunction with drum programming), bass guitar, some normal guitar used with
certain distorto techniques.  However, don't confuse this with Satriani-esque "whaling"... it couldn't be further from that, there is no overt presence of guitar in this music.  I'm definitely one of those "guitar-phobic" types on the list, but I love RedSnapper's music.  Their sound makes you wonder
what is "real" instrumentation and what is generated.  They are like Stereolab in that way (they sound nothing like them), talented mixture of electronics and instrumentation.
    I think what they were trying to describe with that silly description is that the energy of the drumming/drum programming is comparable to the energy of some drumnbass stuff.  If you regard drumnbass as being high _energy_, then you'll see what they mean, but by no means is there the overt breaks
usage as in dnb.  The music of RS is slower bpm-wise than dnb, so that's why the description falls over.
    I suggest you listen to a copy of Prince Blimey at the store and you'll get the idea... (or you can buy my vinyl copy of The Swank EP, on sale cheap for you now ;-) and see how inept my description is :-O

Hope that helps..
Kev
np:  I-F - Fucking Consumer (what are I-F up to lately, have I missed something?)
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