(A pre-written, and hence coherent entry)
Jungle's not undergoing a "creative revival" so much as a populist capitulation,
href="http://www.crosswinds.net/~norfolkwindmills/new0009.html#0004a">Gareth. Basically every single "cheesy" aspect of
the music's various incarnations over the last eight years is being radically reincarnated. Mentasms, rave stabs, ragga chants, dub
basslines, amens, breakdowns, vocal anthems etc. etc. etc.
It's not necessarily a good thing, but I took Matt out to Soulaar at The Lounge on Thursday night and even he had a good time,
despite not really having danced to anything except commercial house before. Actually he liked the really hard stuff with Shy
FX-style mad bongos, which surprised me greatly, though the same thing happened the last time I took out a novice friend.
I could say that I enjoy jungle now because unlike even just a couple of months ago, there is now an enormous variety in the
types of tracks you'll hear, from straight two-step rollers to crazy amen mashes. On Thursday they even played a totally whacked
out dub number with weird, asymmetrical and echoey breaks that confused everyone. Naturally I loved it. However the truth is that
I'll always enjoy jungle no matter what state it's in because, much like house, it has become to me something of a staple dance
music ingredient to me. I need to dance to sped up breakbeats and impacting basslines every so often or I feel weird. It
doesn't matter whether the scene is really healthy or on death's door.
If you're interested though, here's a webpage where heaps of
jungle fans debate over the present state and future of the music. If you're acquainted with the scene some of it can be thought
provoking stuff.