Origin Unknown ‎– The Speed Of Sound

Around '96 through to '98, RAM based their releases on a kind of intergalactic science fiction soundscape, dark and futuristic, they set the tone of underground urban club music. All the track names from around this time have hints towards a journey through space and technology, which I always thought fitted the music perfectly. After this album was released the themes continued, however, the employ of breaks used as beats was generally laid to rest. Some say for the worse, others for the better. This is often the thing that separates old skoolers from nu skoolers, dnb heads from junglists. Personally I find the use of funk and soul breaks on this album, and their contrast with the harsh synth and analogue bass lines, are what give the music it's quality. If you know anything about the production techniques of the time and how hard it was to sample, cut and filter breaks with this much finesse, then you'll appreciate it's merits. This music isn't for everyone, but if you've ever tried to produce a piece of dance music using break beats, then you can fail to marvel at it. After this came a succession of 'Tech Step' releases which I guess was a natural progression for the producers at the time. For me though it'll always be about those breaks. To put things in contrast I'm listening to some Brazilian bossa nova while writing this.