Review Summary: The enduring appeal of elegance in simplicity.
Drum and Bass is a strange beast. While most genres and styles to emerge from the confusing chaos that was the early 90s UK rave scene would go out of fashion rather quickly and remain mere footnotes in the history of club-oriented electronic music, this one survived. In fact it thrived and evolved, as talented producers adopted this versatile new sound and made it their own, taking it into a variety of interesting directions.
Many enthusiasts believe that the 90s and early 2000s were the golden age of Drum and Bass; that it was the peak of creative exploration and artistic expression, managing to elevate a genre that otherwise remained firmly anchored in the nightclub scene. From the lush and deeply atmospheric stylings of LTJ Bukem and the countless talent he fostered under his Good Looking Records label, to the darker sounds first explored by Rufige Kru (a.k.a. Goldie), Dom & Roland and Dead Dred and later further developed by Ed Rush, Grooverider and Bad Company, to the stronger, more overt jazz influences that drove the tunes of Lemon D, Peshay and Roni Size, it was a prosperous time indeed. Of course this was all before acts such as Pendulum, Noisia and Chase & Status would make the genre more accessible to the masses later in the 2000s, in a more streamlined package.
“Pulp Fiction / Chill Pill” was released on Goldie’s legendary Metalheadz label in 1995, and unlike some of Alex Reece’s other offerings it does not particularly fall under any of the aforementioned categories. And yet it has remained perhaps his most enduring legacy, lovingly remembered to this day as a Drum and Bass essential by many fans. This is despite there being no intense breaks or complex beats here, no layers upon layers of atmospheric synths, no dark or distorted overpowering basslines and no haunting samples to offer a tense or perhaps otherworldly vibe.
Indeed what this record’s two tracks have to offer is Drum and Bass distilled to a robust core, with bells and whistles only used sparsely and carefully. “Pulp Fiction” is defined by one of the simplest possible beats in the genre, at a relaxed tempo, not unlike what you would expect from the late 2000s “Liquid DnB” sound. The bass booms steadily - an equally simple but effective line, entirely in the lower registers. Laidback jazz trumpet and a few other tasteful samples round out the flavour and make this airy tune come to life. On “Chill Pill“ we have a slightly more complex beat make up for a comparatively subdued bassline. Simple synth and piano melodies characteristic of the mid 90s flesh out a spacey, relaxed atmosphere similar to the previous track.
Make no mistake though, the music on offer here is not an exercise in minimalism, nor any sort of attempt to make the Drum and Bass sound work with as few elements as possible. It is merely a case for the strength of simplicity. The way Reece brings in or takes away each layer of sound as the songs progress feels measured and deliberate. Sometimes we are left with only the bass, or only the synths, before drums come back in at just the perfect moment. Granted this is not a particularly uncommon approach to composition, but the result is that no section overstays its welcome.
All in all It’s certainly elegant enough to be highly effective. Perhaps not a release that will convince those with refined taste of the genre’s depth, but one that plays to its strengths in making the listener want to dance.
