Medlar: "My Ten Favourite Crazy Amen Breaks"

Hidden Depths is a new series where these names pick some of their more unexpected favourites, and tell the stories of why they love them.

Next up is Medlar, whose debut 'Sleep' has been a firm favourite of ours since it was released last year; a gorgeous, jazzy house album that, rather than bang out the jams and wear with multiple listens, is a serious grower. We figured that, with so many influences and ideas in play on Sleep, Medlar would be a gold-mine of electronic goodies. Here he is, picking his ten favourite examples of that infamous jungle break, the amen break.

Medlar: Jungle and drum 'n' bass was my initiation into dance music. I listened to little else for a few years. I tried recreating the drum sound in the records I loved on Fruity Loops using loads of ride and snare samples, before I discovered it was just pitched up fun and hip hop breaks! In particular though, the 'amen' (a drum sample from The Winstons - 'Amen Brother') has something about it that makes it sound so heavy. Here are 10 tracks that use it, that I love.

Dillinja - 'Ja Know Ya Big'

In my opinion, this is perhaps the finest jungle EP ever. This is one of two on the B side of 'The Angels Fell': the epic, Blade Runner-sampling classic. I've been picking up early Dillinja records whenever I see them recently. I figured I couldn't justify owning any jungle without them. A hugely influential artist for me. Few did it as well as Dillinja.

Skream - 'Lightning'

One of those few tracks that I can vividly remember hearing in a club for the first time. Though it's not particularly representative of the dubstep sound at that time (2005/2006), it was the track that made me really sit up and pay attention to what was going on. For me, the best thing about dubstep was how it destroyed so many preconceptions about what genres it's okay to draw influence from within dance music, and to combine elements from almost disparate scenes. I think that, as a result, the wider dance scene has been closer since.

System X - '2 In 1 Mix'

I only discovered this last year when I found it in a 2nd hand record shop, but I know that if I'd found it when I was a teenager I would've been regularly losing my shit to it full blast in my bedroom - in the days where I'd listen to records literally on repeat. The weird hardcore pads and samples are almost Terminator-ish, but the structure holds it all together into something more functional. I've been playing with an MPC sampler recently, which has made me appreciate the time and skill that went into producing these old tracks, the drum choppage in particular. Though I haven't included any in this list, anyone after some sublime choppage should look up some Equinox and Bizzy B.

Roger Ruff - 'Do Ya (Great Bass mix)'

Another sound I've been getting into recently is late 90s/early 00s speed garage, niche and bassline etc. I think maybe it's a reaction to hearing lots of new drop-heavy, garage-influenced house music - a lot of which I'm not wild about. It made me think,  "Why not just crank it to 130bpm, and show these kids how to do it proper?" This one's particularly cool as it's a version of NY's Finest's classic 'Do You Feel Me', and it has an amen breakdown.

Remarc - 'RIP'

A total classic. I think this is one of the best examples of the inherent energy in an amen break. I think this is a bit of a "Marmite tune", but the real jungle heads will be definitely be on board! Remarc is another true master of the jungle drums in my eyes, and still plays great sets to this day. It's easy to forget that sometimes all you need is drums, bass and vocals for the most effective club tunes. Tracks like this remind us of that.

N.W.A - 'Straight Outta Compton'

I had to include 'Straight Outta Compton'! I was always more of an NWA boy rather than Public Enemy. I think I was into the production more… not so sure that's a cool thing to say, ha. But this was a real gateway record into 90s hip hop for me, so even though it's a bit cheesy I have fond memories of it. And, it taught us all that Ice Cube isn't for the pop charts.

Squarepusher - Tundra

I didn't actually know this track until Gerry Read showed it to me a year or 2 ago and I've totally loved it. It's hard to balance the line of almost proggy virtuosity without sounding wanky, but Squarepusher does it well by combining geeky details with rudeboy references. I think some similar stuff is in danger of becoming too white, and is almost funk-less music. I imagine if it used programmed drums rather than a live break, it would lose almost all of its emotional power.

Lemon D - Manhattan Melody

I imagined this list to include a bigger variety of music, but there's too many jungle records I can't leave out. Dillinja's accomplice Lemon D has produced some great tunes, but this has to be my favourite. Tasteful rhodes sample intro, totally nails the pitched 808 kick bassline, and there's even a killer reese section at the end! So many of the trademark sounds associated with the jungle sound, executed perfectly and in a way that still sounds totally fresh and exciting to me.

Higher Sense - Cold Fresh Air

It was a tough one between this and Splash - 'Babylon'. This one's a total master-class in the art of sampling. I can't resist air drumming those pitched amen crashes. The remixed version, which came out on Moving Shadow, has some extra embellishments and little details and I think is maybe played more, but the original is the one for me. I've just discovered - as I'm writing this list - that it was co produced by Ant Miles of Origin Unknown/Ram Trilogy too. What do you know!

LTJ Bukem - 'Demon's Theme'

I have lots of love for Bukem's Detroit techno-indebted sound. This is one of my favourites of his earlier hardcore-ish stuff. A lot of the music I listened to as a teenager is pretty embarrassing now, so it's nice to have things like this that I can revisit and get all misty-eyed to. I saw Bicep recently post a track from one of the Logical Progression comps on their blog. The Good Looking Records sound from this time really is quite timeless, and it's great that it still makes a lot of sense now.

We think Medlar is going to have a stellar year. You can follow him on Twitter here: @medlar_