Junglist! Old Skool Ragga, D&B, Jungle

Soul Jazz Recordsの新作『Junglist!』は、クラシックからレアなオリジナル・ジャングルまでを厳選した重量級のセレクション。Krome & Time、Cutty Ranks、M-Beat、Bizzy B、Lemon D、Brainkillers、Top Catなどが収録されています。

『Junglist!』は、ジャングルとレゲエが融合し、史上最もヘビーな楽曲を生み出した物語を紡ぎます。力強いベースライン、激しいAmenブレイク、そして重厚なラガ・ボーカルは、ドラムンベースの黎明期から続く、まさにオリジナル・ジャングル・スタイルです。収録曲はすべて、ジャングル全盛期の1993年から1995年にかけての作品です。レア曲には、Bizzy B & TDKの「Big Things」（Discogsで現在350ポンド！）などがあり、ホワイトレーベルでのみリリースされています。

このアルバムには、M-Beat、Krome & Time、Lemon D、DJ Vern、DJ Ashといった第一世代のジャングル・プロデューサーに加え、Cutty Ranks、Beenie Man、Josey Wales、Poison Changといったハードコア・ダンスホールのレジェンドによる、超ヘビーなジャングル・ミックスが収録されています。本作は、Soul Jazz Recordsの過去のジャングル＆ハードコア作品『Rumble in the Jungle』、Ragga Twinsの『Step Off』、『Black Riot – Early Jungle, Rave and Hardcore』に続くものです。

Junglist! Old Skool Ragga, D&B, Jungle 1993-95 follows Soul Jazz Records previous compilations Rumble in the Jungle and Black Riot, which gathered seminal tracks from the early days of ragga-jungle and breakbeat hardcore. While Rumble in the Jungle served as an ideal introduction to the genre, with unmistakable classics like "Original Nuttah" and "Limb by Limb" present, and Black Riot delved a bit more into the dancehall and hip-hop influences on rave culture, Junglist! digs deeper, uncovering sought-after rarities. The rarest tracks on here also happen to be among the heaviest and craziest jungle tracks of the era. Bizzy B & TDKs "Big Things" only surfaced as a scarce white label in the mid-90s, and it absolutely crushes, delivering an onslaught of brutal breakbeats following its atmospheric intro. Another Bizzy B track, "Dub Select" (with M.T.), fittingly starts with a dub-inspired rhythm before the explosive breakbeats go haywire. "Screwface" by Brainkillers, long acknowledged as a darkside classic by dedicated junglists, starts with bone-chilling sounds resembling crickets and wolves, then erupts in a storm of crashing breaks and bass pressure. Many selections emphasize jungles roots in dancehall and ragga, with emcees smoothly flowing over turbulent drums. Redroses "Jungle Tempo" is practically a manifesto for the genre, while "Original Ranks (Just Jungle Remix)" is a prime example of why Cutty Ranks can be considered one of the definitive ragga-jungle vocalists. The other tracks that credit the vocalist as the main artist, rather than the producer, are just as strong lyrically as they are beat-wise, including Terror Fabulous hyperspeed "Ragga Ragga Ragga (Whitehouse Crew Remix)" and the head-spinning "Build Me 3 Coffins" by Josey Wales, Beenie Man, and Ini Kamoze. A Lemon D track called "Jah Love" finishes the set, beginning a bit softer with flute samples and shuffling breaks before launching into the hard stuff. There are no weak tracks on the entire compilation, making it essential for anyone whos into jungle in its purest, uncut form. ~ Paul Simpson