Dam Nation - The Anthem (as trilogy)

Reactor Grits

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Oct 17, 2002
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Amsterdam, Netherlands
During 2008, the RSA crew decided to compose a special anthem for the Dam Nation movement. The main reason was to profile their sound to listeners, and soon was discovered it wouldn't be that easy. There are many sides to Dam Nation that make it what it is, since it's rare sound comes from the heads of 5 people who could never reproduce the sound on their own, thus creating a wide spectrum. Therefore the crew decided not to make just one single tune, but a piece consisting out of 3 movements, each defining a part of the spectrum. Each movement relates to the other, sharing the same sample sources yet maintaining it's own dimension. How this was done, can only be clarified by hearing the movements in order and let it wash over you. This is our monster project. This is Dam Nation.

Part 1
http://www.reactorstudios.nl/tunes/Dam%20Nation%20-%20Anthem%20Pt.%201.mp3
The anthem opens with the b-boy side of Dam Nation, which holds it's funk, groove, and soul. It examples DN's love for proper cratedigging, fusing elements to a whole while showing the power of melody. Subtlety rules here over structural complexity to point out it's strength when used proper. This anthem warmup is on a whole, a tribute to raw, oldschool yes-ya'lling.

Part 2
http://www.reactorstudios.nl/tunes/Dam%20Nation%20-%20Anthem%20Pt.%202.mp3
The second part shows the core of Dam Nation; the strength of postmodern jungle. Keeping the soulful elements from the first part, darkness conquers the funk and shows the grim side of DN. Raw, pumping breaks mash over screeching yet thumping bass sounds and dark soundscapes accompany the sound DN is known for. This is also the first DN production featuring an outside musician on authentic spy guitar!

Part 3
http://www.reactorstudios.nl/tunes/Dam%20Nation%20-%20Anthem%20Pt.%203.mp3
The final part shows DN's unconscious side, elevating fear and darkness. With the absence of any groove, it's soundscapes and messages create an ambience of inferno that seems to hold his breath waiting to spit. This frightening trip swells and symbolizes an almost unintentional creation that just springs to live when we hold the groove back. Still, it concludes this anthem in a dreamworld of mysteries holding both beauty and grime, two of DN's core elements.

Click on the link below to download the whole trilogy in a zipped package:
http://www.reactorstudios.nl/tunes/Dam%20Nation%20-%20Anthem%20(Complete).zip
 
excellent production fellas really enjoyed the second especially - reminded me a bit of photek in places - really good use of surround spacing as well and I've only got my crap headphones on
 
The mid part was realy my fave, the ending goes over the top so much i think of squarepusher stroking his beard with enthusiasm. Good show alltogether though, I never would've combined those 3 tracks but that makes me a pussy not an expert. Brave choices and the risk was worth it!

And production is very transparent, absolutely NOTHING to bitch about.
 
many thanks for the kind words peeps! @ Kama: (sup mane!) Dam Nation is basically the whole RSA crew together producing, so that's Log, Phuture-T, me and sporadically Splinter and Drome. the cast differed in the process, but all of us have a hand in the DN projects eventually.
 
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