Naphta, I think I may have overstated my case. To me, even this very outre form of dnb I'm talking about is in fact still drum and bass and it finds its formality as such in the rhythms and juxtapositions of elements contained therein, and in the friction that exists at the margins of the form because it's still working WITHIN the form; elements which are wholly derived from drum and bass in its original incarnation as dance music. I know it sounds like what I'm talking about isn't that, but it is. I think what it comes down to is that on the continuum of rhythmic elasticity which on one end is lockstep two-step and on the other, Sunny Murray completely free, abstract sound fields of percussive haze, most of what I'm talking about still resides in the middle, it's just that to an audience born and bred on two step, even slight deviations from it seem already less accessible. I think it's safe to say that within electronic music, a lot of people here either cut our teeth on hardcore/jungle and its rhythmic freedom or quickly came to appreciate it, so for us, that 'slight deviation' is terribly conservative whereas to a Konflict fan it's already adventurous. If I was sounding too absolutist I apologize, as I'm hardly that. And if it sounds like I'm reducing this down to a simple distinction of drum patterns, well, there's a lot more to it than that.
I kind of wish Oktal was around for this discussion as I think he--better than anyone--articulated the perfect idea of what dancefloor drum and bass is or can be. To me, just about everything ever mentioned here is dancefloor; to ME, "One of Them" IS dancefloor. It works. Yes, it's not blow your brians out E-tardation melt with the universe in jungalistic frenzy, but it's not unfunky, nor is it a static field of sculptural sound. It moves, it breathes, it has funk, swing, all those things that derive from a music informed of physicality. In other words, you can sweat to it.
Shit...way too busy to write more...then again, surely I must be getting tiresome.
I kind of wish Oktal was around for this discussion as I think he--better than anyone--articulated the perfect idea of what dancefloor drum and bass is or can be. To me, just about everything ever mentioned here is dancefloor; to ME, "One of Them" IS dancefloor. It works. Yes, it's not blow your brians out E-tardation melt with the universe in jungalistic frenzy, but it's not unfunky, nor is it a static field of sculptural sound. It moves, it breathes, it has funk, swing, all those things that derive from a music informed of physicality. In other words, you can sweat to it.
Shit...way too busy to write more...then again, surely I must be getting tiresome.