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Amen Breaks in Dubstep

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:47 am
by whighzeguy
Love em? Hate em? Indifferent?

I pesonally love em'. At 140 the drums really have a chance to breathe.

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:59 am
by seckle
imo, it totally depends on how its used. there's a tune -mala-'s playing at the moment with an amazing use of just the amen snare, flipped in reverse and then back at normal. not the whole loop, just the main snare.

i also think that it's so submerged in all of our brains after 15 years of breakbeat and dnb, that i really wouldn't miss it if it was never used again.

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:21 am
by whighzeguy
I hear you on that.
Off the top of my head instances where I think it worked well would be, Lightning by Skream, The Rope by Marlow, and Rob One Seven by Darqwan. For my money, I may lay it down on Darqwan in terms of producers I think have the best drum work.

[quote="seckle"]imo, it totally depends on how its used. there's a tune mala's playing at the moment with an amazing use of just the amen snare, flipped in reverse and then back at normal. not the whole loop, just the main snare.
quote]

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:08 am
by murk_dweller
i just makes sense

the original break is at 138bpm

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:52 am
by skoolz
J-TEK !!!!

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:21 am
by escobar satan
I'm on the "take or leave" tip. Wouldn't miss it, but if the producer runs da' riddim... game on.

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:43 am
by esoundc
would like to hear more music like that :idea:

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:59 am
by efa
For the win!

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:09 am
by brighterday
I kind get a bit bored of it *runs for cover*

Listened to an interesting documentary about it the other day (the break that is, not its use in Ds)
http://www.nkhstudio.com/pages/popup_amen.html

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:15 am
by runner
RSD's forthcomin Trampler track is another fine example.. .fookin deep, dark and heavy with just part of the Amen comin in and out.. Maybe this is what Mala is playing out.

Pinch played that tune @ Synch fest in Greece 3 weeks ago. awesome

generally, more space as the bpms are slower. if used properly it does wonders :arrow:

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:17 am
by xxxy
totally weird I just finished watching that documentary on the amen

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:22 am
by steppo
well, its kinda the reason i liked dnb for so long at first

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:28 am
by wooda916
i dont think you should rule anything in or out...

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:46 pm
by +torment+
personally, the first dubsteppy tunes i heard with an amen break that worked was a random tune i heard from R33LCA$H (untitled? sorry)... a few years ago.

And more overtly, Starkey's - Made of Paper remix (as heard on Slit Jockey mixtape vol 1).... maybe more of a crossover sound from the breakcore side of things that worked great! A personal fave. Distorted, heavy, and melodic all at once. noice.

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:56 pm
by d-code
can't beat a nice break. gives a lot of life and character to a track.

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:02 pm
by rogue star
I think its the same as any break, its just that the amen is more instantly recognisable. I mean the apache has been used a few times in dubstep, also soul pride and the raw break. The way i see it its just like a music programme, its what you do with it that counts.

I dont mind hearing people use any breaks that have been "rinsed" (and i use it loosely) just be inventive with it, and for the record, i doubt Stay Calm would have worked with anything else :wink:

http://www.sonicboomuk.com/store/index. ... oductId=27

Re: Amen Breaks in Dubstep

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:25 pm
by ali jamieson
whighzeguy wrote:Love em? Hate em? Indifferent?

I pesonally love em'. At 140 the drums really have a chance to breathe.
+1 i am an amen lover

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:43 pm
by r33lc4sh
+TORMENT+ wrote:personally, the first dubsteppy tunes i heard with an amen break that worked was a random tune i heard from R33LCA$H (untitled? sorry)... a few years ago.
nice u remember ;)
the only tune with "pure" amen I did is 'metropolis' which is out as a digital release on mezmerize rec. it's on a grim feast's "fear ep"
u can check it here: http://www.digital-tunes.net/releases/fear_ep

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:50 pm
by abZ
I am a big fan of the amen. I have the original 7" (=

It works for dubstep. Not every tune tho. I hope we don't go through that phase that DNB went through of people playing entire sets of amen tunes but like I said it's cool every now and again. It's just kinda part of the dance landscape like the Roland sounds and JB breaks. You can't deny it.

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:20 pm
by +torment+
r33lc4sh wrote:
+TORMENT+ wrote:personally, the first dubsteppy tunes i heard with an amen break that worked was a random tune i heard from R33LCA$H (untitled? sorry)... a few years ago.
nice u remember ;)
the only tune with "pure" amen I did is 'metropolis' which is out as a digital release on mezmerize rec. it's on a grim feast's "fear ep"
u can check it here: http://www.digital-tunes.net/releases/fear_ep

^^ yes yes, I have a great memory, and discerning ear. Watch out! heh.


Amen bruv.