- How long does it take for a niche musical trend to hit the mainstream? Around 2012, jungle's amen break crashed back into the underground, reshaped into new and exciting forms by UK artists like Paul Woolford, Mumdance and Tessela. Since then, everyone's been at it, from Zenker Brothers and Objekt to bigger acts like Bicep and Alan Fitzpatrick. The sound's most high-profile adopter yet, though, might be Kölsch, who says he was "inspired by some early drum and bass" on his recent remix of "Saying" by Nic Fanciulli and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn.
Kölsch has made a career out of straddling dance music's two worlds. As he once told Resident Advisor, the money he made from the global smash "Calabria" allowed him to "focus on the underground stuff I was in love with." This remix shows off both sides of his tastes, and the juxtaposition is jarring. A generic electro house groove dominates at either end, with macho synth blasts set to galloping percussion. But for 90 seconds in the middle, it's pure bliss. A glistening melody, lifted from the cheesy original and treated almost beyond recognition, floats over a house beat before the summery amen break bursts in, albeit at around 125 BPM. At this rate, it's surely only a matter of time before jungle rhythms appear in a Rihanna or Justin Bieber track.
Tracklist01. Saying feat. Damon Albarn (Kölsch Remix)