I remember playing Command & Conquer for hours whilst listening to Metalheadz albums on repeat as a teenager 25 years ago. Just refound a lot of this recently and still buzz off the uniquely quirky mish mash of futuristic beats and cool AF samples
Coming from the age when we use to actually program samples, rip them apart and push the envelope in music producing (No sample packs used!) hehe ..Original creation stuff!/// with soul too!! which has completely gone with alot of music in this genre now, sadly..
This goes beyond being a great single, it is artistry and craftsmanship of the highest order. I agree with handclapsand808 in that dnb takes much inspiration from within, when back in the day the music was born out of a melting pot of genres and producers experimenting with new formulas. Furthermore, this track is a fine example of a dying art; original sampling. So many rely on the sample packs with limited originality in drum programming and also rinse preset synth sounds for atmosphere, with limited adaptation. Whilst I agree that some synthesis production in dnb has gone from strength to strength, it is amazing how focusing on the drums, using a devastating sub, cleverly using samples and innovative arrangement without the need for a huge breakdown and massive drop, can be such a great combination. Even now, this tune sounds futuristic, and whilst I am but an amateur producer passionate about underground music, it is tracks like that inspire me to create rather than the majority of stuff put out today across many genres.
Idd. DnB suffers too much from the self-reference effect and has done for years now. I really miss the early days when producers drew inspiration and ideas from almost every genre of music in existence. Now people make DnB inspired by DnB.
It amazes me how popular the sound is now when it hasn't evolved for almost a decade.
Really interested to hear the new Photek stuff he has in the works though. Hopefully it'll inject some creativity into a genre that's long gone stale ideas wise.
