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Grime and DnB: what's with all the rewinds?

Orang Utan

Orang Utan

Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
I've been wanting to go to a grime night for ages, but was listening to a live DJ/MC session from Elijah & Skilliam on Rinse FM and have been put off by the constant interruptions. People seem to enjoy this and I was wondering why as it kills my vibe.
I stopped going to DnB nights because of this (and the MCs were also always interrupting the flow), and grime seems to have inherited this annoying habit.
Why do they do it?
 
A fashion borrowed from dancehall sound systems. Used to be used sparingly but now many selectors on the big sounds are unable to play more than 20 seconds of a tune without wheeling it up and treating the crowd to the sound of their own voice. Many people find this exciting, the rest of us get bored rigid.
 
Sounds even worse on CDJs compared to turntables. Like they're hitting a speed limit. Schtop, you shouldn't be going backwards this quickly...
 
Orang Utan said:
I'm not so keen on the live MCing on shitty mics either. Another annoying interruption!
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I remember both of these from when I used to go to D&B clubs (which was like 15 years ago!) and thinking back then "what is the point in this? play the fucking record and let me dance to it, this is a club isn't it, I thought that was the point? and who is this wanker on the mic?" Nobody seemed to have any proper answers back then either.
 
As far as I know (might be bullshit), but when dnb was just emerging out of jungle, everyone used to go to the same clubs (RAGE..?). Producers would bring their dub plates that they had often made that same day and give them to the DJs.If a producer had a good enough rep, the DJ would spin their records that night.
So the nights were kind of like showcases for the latest tunes. If there was enough approval, the DJ would take ithe record back to the beginning. It was like the ultimate accolade.

'Oh my Gosh that tune is so good I got to hear it again!!'


I know what you mean about it interrupting your flow though. It makes the music more broken up, more traditionally 'song based', like a gig if you get my meaning. Which is why some people like it.

Its become a cliche now though. And done much too often.

Its funny I've done a few rewinds in my time and its interesting how different people react to it. Proper ravers are really put off, while most 'normal' people love it :D

I think if you are proper into your dancing I find it really annoying personally, if done more than once every hour.
 
I used to got to Grime nights and it was filled with people pointing into the air going 'BRAP! BRAP! BRAP!!' which was ridiculous. Until you joined in and then it was loads of fun.

I saw a DJ do his set with his wife dancing and BRAP!BRAP!BRAPing away beside him :)

I think people think its a bit cheesy now though :hmm:
 
Yeah, I tend to get tired of it when done too often.

On the other hand, I saw Scuba last year, and towards the end of a 2 hr set, when he dropped 'NE1butU' the crowd went so mental he pulled it back. Crowd went even more mental the second time. In that case it was totally deserved. If you're rewinding more than 1/2 times an hour, you've got far too inflated a sense of your tunes's worth...
 
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Can be overdone, but sometimes a tune has to come back. and done properly it adds a lot. With DnB especially not only do you miss the intro in the mix, but also (sadly) its increasingly about the drop, so having another go at the drop can be fun.
My not-so-favourite anecdote was once at a squat thing i got a bit excited by the playing of a certain tune (cheap cider may have been involved) and no questions asked i went and wacked my hand on the deck and pulled it. I got to hear the tune from the top, but not before a 30 second earful from the grumpy dj. Shouldve taken it as a compliment
 
ska invita said:
hah ringo i think i nearly did it to you once on Pirates Anthem (it was the end of the night! *hic)
Click to expand...

I've had it done to me a few times. Its usually done with enthusiasm for the tune, which can be taken as a complement, but I've seen selectors go mental at anyone trying to fuck with their tunes and flow - these records are expensive to replace! :D
 
I like watching MC battles on YouTube sometimes but I don't want to hear it in a club. I want to dance, not listen to people bigging themselves up!
 
What's grindle and merking?
Grindle sounds like it might be the ace jazz funk meets grime that Swindle makes and plays.
And isn't merking just stabbing?
 
Metal Malcolm said:
Any discussion of rewinds needs this added. Which doesn't even have the benefit of being in a club, IT WAS ON RADIO 1 FFS!
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Rider is the only person ive heard to do a triple rewind out, and pull it off.
He did the same thing on radio with

...four rewinds on that i think

and you know what, it worked on me - i still get excited about In the Grind almost as much from the enthusiasm he showed as of the power of the tune.

enthusiasm is the key here - if its genuine you cant fake it and it comes across - if its done automatically and out of habit its a load of shite.

if someone comes and begs for a rewind you should count yourself lucky there are people listening who care enough - in so many situations no one could give a shit.
 
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