grime in 2004

I've yet to hear a Ruff Sqwad track I like as much as "R.U.F.F."

the ruff squad set's on slsk, tim, sadly i don't have any webspace to put it up (though if you can suggest other ways i can transfer it to you via the internet (is there a possibility with instant messenger stuff?!) i'm happy to).

strider, with the best line in the song, i love that bit

Ha ha this description is *purpose-built* to make me salivate uncontrollably. It occurred to me the other day that over the last year my entire listening habits have shifted somewhat towards overblown melodic multicoloured pyrotechnics. I'm not sure what's the cause but I'm blaming dancehall.

Incidentally, after all that confusion over Vice Versa being a remix or not I'm pretty sure that it's just "Vice Versa" now! Sorry for mixing everyone up!

The best stuff strikes me as an odd mesh of early 2-step, 'ardkore and that brief late nineties fad for jungle mixes of R&B tunes - the first for the way the producer shreds the vocals to little hiccups and phrases, the second for the way it all sounds like a composite of different effects, and the third for its brute physicality. It's definitely quite different to even the darker vocal 2-step of 00-02, which tended to let the vocal run straight through.

This stuff isn't the future in any way shape or form, but I enjoy it immensely.

because the original tune (or the lead vocalist in the case of new productions) is pretty much eviscerated by the snapping beats and slimy basslines

... are my three favourites, but look for that one Luka talked about on his blog 'cos he makes it sound awesome:

Terra Danjah feat. Sadie & Kano - So Sure

that wasn't me that was lee, (anythingcanhappen.blogspot.com) who i think was posting under the name tinman. i should have made it more obvious i was quoting.

the only other tune ive herad like this (on the independance site) is a bit rubbish too - Get 2 Know- Skepta Feat Chardonnai (thats a good name though). my fear is that the vocalists they are going to get are kinda shit. i like shola ama however, if only i could actually hear that tune with terra danjah!

Ambrose the rubbishiness or otherwise of the vocalists is usually a bit moot because they're mostly sped up shrill cyber-divas (this is why I didn't include Gemma Fox or Lorraine Cato first off - the sound has moved on slightly).

Prima explain your Terra Danja hate plz - I don't hear the Hyperdub connection you're making, or if I do surely it applies to Danny Weed, Davinche et. al. as well?

luka's right - "armour" is lethal injection. i'm stupid.

tinman - could you msg me next time yr on slsk?! i had a crash and lost my user list.

I thought something was wrong! Are they on there anywhere then?

If I can get Nicotine client to work for Mac (Tim, have you tried this?), I might finally be up on soulseek soon. I'm desperate to hear all the new stuff.