This review covers the breakbeat track J.D.S. – Nine Ways (Original Mix).
This track was released in 1997 as part of a single.
The track starts with a breakbeat drum kit along with an orchestral hit. An effect is added. A voice sample then comes in. The section ends with some voice sample warping. The drum kit then comes back in along with the voice sample. From there, the warping comes back in along with the drum kit dropping out.
In the next section, a synth comes in. After a few voice samples, the drum kit then comes back, though slightly altered. The drum kit then drops out, leaving a synth melody. This is backed by a snare roll.
This leads into a more house style track as the drum kit reverts to a four to the floor pattern. Two synths accompany this. A string synth comes in along with some voice samples heard earlier on. The drum kit then drops out after a short snare roll.
After that, the breakbeat drum kit then returns. This is accompanied by some voice samples. The drum kit then drops out, leaving just the voice samples. From there, the synth makes a return, backed by a snare roll.
Once again, the house style drum kit makes a return. Voice samples make a return. A snare roll then comes in briefly before some of the voice samples drop out. An effect is added. The effects then drop out, leaving just the drum kit and bassline. The bassline drops out, leaving just the drum kit. A voice sample is added. A snare roll then comes in and the voice sample leads the track out.
This is one of those tracks that certainly follows along with that collage style of music big in the 90s. The thing is, this track also basically incorporates two genre’s of music. They basically take turns having a presence in the track. While this is an interesting concept on paper, in practice, it winds up giving this track a bit of an identity crises.
To be fair, they both mix well together in this track. Unfortunately, I would say this track would have been better off split into two four minute tracks instead of the nearly eight minute long track it is now.
The synths sound great and I’m personally partial towards the house portions of the track. So, it’s not as though this is a bad track by any means.
Overall, this track blends both breakbeat and house into one track. While it sounds interesting on paper to have house and breakbeat take turns throughout, this track only makes this somewhat successful. While it has some nice synths and an interesting overall vibe, I can’t help but think this would have been better off being split into two distinct tracks instead. House style being on track and breakbeat being the other track. So, an OK track, but nothing really huge.
Score
6/10
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
