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What is the difference between Bassline, Funky and Niche?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:45 pm
by pete_bubonic
I mean the actual dictionary defined difference?
And why is it actually called Funky, I know Blackdown wrote something a little while ago. But it can't be just me thinking that calling an entire genre by an adjective is fucking stupid? I mean, I ain't that down with the kids, but it's gotta be Funky Something. Funky House? Funky Bassline? And what bit are actually funky? It just seems like a completely disconnected word for a genre that doesn't relate to any of the words established meanings. Evolution of language and everything, I know. Still doesn't stop it sounding fucking dumb.
That aside. How is it different from Bassline? Which is the same thing as Niche right?
I mean I like a lot of tunes out of this spectrum, but the naming is dumb.
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:47 pm
by the wiggle baron
DUM DU DU DU DUM DU DU DU DUM DU DU DU DUM DUM
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:50 pm
by ozols man
to be honest theres a very big difference between funky house and bassline. if u cant hear it then im convinced u have no hears, or perhaps something else just as mad
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:56 pm
by oddfellow
ozols man wrote:...if u cant hear it then im convinced u have no hears...
What a great thing to call your ears, think I'll start using that...
I'm pretty sure Niche and Bassline are the same thing. Niche comes from the club it originated from methinks. Funky just sounds like funky house with slight variation.
Re: What is the difference between Bassline, Funky and Niche
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:56 pm
by shonky
pete bubonic wrote:But it can't be just me thinking that calling an entire genre by an adjective is fucking stupid?
Is it as stupid as calling a genre drum and bass?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:59 pm
by badger
bassline (bassline house) and niche are basically the same thing, aka speed garage. the "niche" sound originated in sheffield and is slightly different from the london sound, but it's different in the way that bristol dubstep and london dubstep are different; two sides of the same coin.
funky is just the new, more "london" take on funky house, don't really know why they decided to drop the "house" from it. i guess they're trying and differentiate it from a lot of the bad image funky house has amongst certain people
niche/bassline/speed garage sounds VERY different from funky (house)
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:05 pm
by pete_bubonic
badger wrote:bassline (bassline house) and niche are basically the same thing, aka speed garage. the "niche" sound originated in sheffield and is slightly different from the london sound, but it's different in the way that bristol dubstep and london dubstep are different; two sides of the same coin.
funky is just the new, more "london" take on funky house, don't really know why they decided to drop the "house" from it. i guess they're trying and differentiate it from a lot of the bad image funky house has amongst certain people
niche/bassline/speed garage sounds VERY different from funky (house)
Righto. I must have obviously only heard Bassline tunes then. Anyone got the names or links to the biggest Funky tunes about at the moment? Does this mean I can start busting out Pete Heller and Armand Van Helden in my sets and retain credibility?! Wooooop!
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:06 pm
by plastician
There's definitely a difference in sound between "Funky" and "Funky House"
Again, not sure what the name is all about but this new Funky sound sounds a bit like a more minimal take on the funky house sound. It's less in your face and definitely has an almost tribal feel to a lot of the beats.
That soca style drum pattern seems to be prominent in a lot of the stuff.
It sounds to me like Funky is to Funky House as Grime was to dark 2 Step at about the same time the 2 step was becoming more intelligent thru the likes of El B and Zed Bias
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:12 pm
by badger
pete bubonic wrote:Righto. I must have obviously only heard Bassline tunes then. Anyone got the names or links to the biggest Funky tunes about at the moment? Does this mean I can start busting out Pete Heller and Armand Van Helden in my sets and retain credibility?! Wooooop!
can't really help with recommendations i'm afraid. remember in one of blackdown's blogs about funky he mentioned some names to look out for so might be worth checking that. don't think armand van helden would be included though

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:15 pm
by Whistla
i dont really get the whole "funky" thing.
are they saying "my tunes aren't up to the standard of Francois K, Larry Heard, DJ Sneak etc... so if i call it Funky people will say I am the don of funky and not notice that its just house made in london"
yeh niche as a name came from the club in Sheffs (big up the Broomhall gang everytime)
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:16 pm
by shonky
Plastician wrote:
That soca style drum pattern seems to be prominent in a lot of the stuff.
Is that the same sorta thing as Agent X used to use, and that El-b used on the original of Buck and Bury. Sounds good if so

Re: What is the difference between Bassline, Funky and Niche
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:17 pm
by stanton
Shonky wrote:
Is it as stupid as calling a genre drum and bass?
Didn't John Peel say "If this is intelligent drum and bass, I'd love to hear stupid drum and bass"
EDIT: Also, at the begining of Dub, weren't people calling it Bass and Drum? I remember reading that in an interview with Mad Prof or someone.
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:17 pm
by badger
DJ Whistla wrote:i dont really get the whole "funky" thing.
are they saying "my tunes aren't up to the standard of Francois K, Larry Heard, DJ Sneak etc... so if i call it Funky people will say I am the don of funky and not notice that its just house made in london"
yeh niche as a name came from the club in Sheffs (big up the Broomhall gang everytime)
heh i live in broomhall
yeah it does seem a bit of a cynical attempt at rebranding to try and increase credibility
possibly a bit like renaming garage stepcore tho...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:19 pm
by kidkut
Plastician wrote:There's definitely a difference in sound between "Funky" and "Funky House"
Again, not sure what the name is all about but this new Funky sound sounds a bit like a more minimal take on the funky house sound. It's less in your face and definitely has an almost tribal feel to a lot of the beats.
That soca style drum pattern seems to be prominent in a lot of the stuff.
Whats the difference between Funky and Broken beat, i havent heard any and this just sounds the same going by that description? I aint talking re hashed rnb/hiphop/overly jazzy tunes here.. proper bruk!
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:19 pm
by Whistla
badger wrote:DJ Whistla wrote:i dont really get the whole "funky" thing.
are they saying "my tunes aren't up to the standard of Francois K, Larry Heard, DJ Sneak etc... so if i call it Funky people will say I am the don of funky and not notice that its just house made in london"
yeh niche as a name came from the club in Sheffs (big up the Broomhall gang everytime)
heh i live in broomhall
yeah it does seem a bit of a cynical attempt at rebranding to try and increase credibility
possibly a bit like renaming garage stepcore tho...

haha yeh thats a just a "up yours" to people that think "dubstep" is all half step wobble really, not a true re-branding, just me saying "well if dubstep is half-step wobblers i play ....[insert genre name]...."
i wudnt mind it all just being called "garage" again

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:25 pm
by badger
DJ Whistla wrote:haha yeh thats a just a "up yours" to people that think "dubstep" is all half step wobble really, not a true re-branding, just me saying "well if dubstep is half-step wobblers i play ....[insert genre name]...."
heh yeah i know, that wasn't a dig. just perhaps that's what the "funky" people are trying to do, trying to disaccociate themselves from the image and preconceptions that a lot of people may have of funky house
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:28 pm
by felixgash
Upto (or even more than) 15 bpm!
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:32 pm
by juliun_c90
Plastician wrote:intelligent
nooooooooooooo!!!
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:33 pm
by epithet
I wish hyperdub had caught on as the name for dubstep cos at least kode9 has a clear definition for that. I prefer fidget to bassline/niche or funky.

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:34 pm
by Whistla
badger wrote:DJ Whistla wrote:haha yeh thats a just a "up yours" to people that think "dubstep" is all half step wobble really, not a true re-branding, just me saying "well if dubstep is half-step wobblers i play ....[insert genre name]...."
heh yeah i know, that wasn't a dig. just perhaps that's what the "funky" people are trying to do, trying to disaccociate themselves from the image and preconceptions that a lot of people may have of funky house
ye fo seen
an i kinda put the "house" on the end in my mind anyway lol
i did think it was quite telling tho that in that blackdown bit about funky that when gee an one of the producer/djs were talking the dj was all cool with it being called (funky) house but it was gee saying nah nah it has to be called funky
but yeh bassline and niche are v diff from funky to be sure
genre names eh?!
