Intense Records

State Of Bass: the Origins of Jungle/Drum & Bass’

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£12.49 (£14.99 incl. VAT)

State of Bass explores the roots of the jungle / drum & bass through its social, cultural and musical antecedents and on to its emergence via the debate that surrounded the apparent split between jungle and drum & bass.

Drawing on interviews with some of the key figures in the early years, the book explores the scenes social, cultural and musical roots via the sonic shifts that charted the journey from deep underground to global phenomenon.

The book, which is written by veteran music critic Martin James (Melody Maker, Muzik, DJ, Mixmag, Electronic Sound and Urb, etc.), was originally published in 1997 as State of Bass: Jungle The Story So Far. By 1998, it had sold out and has never been reprinted.

This updated version extends the original text to include the award of the Mercury Prize to Reprazent for the groundbreaking New Forms album and previously unpublished interviews with Roni Size, Goldie, LTJ Bukem, Fabio, Shy FX and other key players from the early years of the scene.

The original book was described by Select magazine as one of the 20 essential music books from the 20th Century, and by FACT mag as one of the 10 electronic music books you need to read.

Cogent, well researched and hardly oblivious to the nutty charisma of jungles lexicon and nomenclature. The first serious attempt to document the drum & bass realm is a total success. Select

Exceedingly well researched, endlessly authoritative and undeniably ace Melody Maker

"Martin James comes up trumps with an in-depth examination of Jungle's roots, history and even a recommended listening guide." Muzik

"Essential reading for anyone who is interested not only in the jungle scene... but in dance in general, in the music industry as a whole or even British society and its infrastructures." DJ

"An acutely perceptive and thought provoking account of the circumstances and celebrities surrounding the development of a modern music that we can finally call our own." The Scotsman

Well worth rattling through if you can track it down. FACT