Right.. lets settle the debate on time signatures once and for all.
Timewarp and bodyrock are 12/8 because 12/8 is a curious timesignature which allows 4 beats but it still has triplet rhythm because it seperates 12 quavers (1/2 beats) into 4 groups of 3 giving u that boom ta ka, boom ta ka, boom ta ka, boom ta ka feel. It means there are 3 half beats to every common time beat in the bar 1 1/2, 1 1/2, 1 1/2, 1 1/2 with a total of 6 whole beats in a bar, and 12 half beats (quavers).
Bodyrock drums in one bar goes:
B-SBBSB-SBBS
i.e bass, pause, snare,bass,bass,snare,bass, pause, snare,bass,bass,snare
if you want il break down the beats as well
1. bass,pause,snare, 2. bass,bass,snare 3. bass,pause,snare 4. bass,bass,snare
Go ahead and try and mix Bodyrock with a 4/4 dnb tune. You will see for yourself that even though u can match the beats the groove and hits of the tracks will clash completely. The reason why it stays in sync is because 2 4/4 bars have passed by the time 1 12/8 bar has passed.
The reason Timewarp is slightly more mixable (but not much) and the reason why it sounds in common time is because the beats are actually offbeat for the 12/8 arrangment making it sound like a normal rhythm or groove when listened to on it's own. But again try mixing Timewarp with another 4/4 tune it wont sound too bad but it some of the beats will be am quarter of a beat out. Then mix it with Bodyrock and see how the two sound perfect as none of the beats or hits are out.
Now... what sort of a music student would i be if i didn't quote or source my information and knowledge.
quote: "2001 Shimon and Andy C release "Bodyrock" - first drum n bass tune to feature a 12/8 groove and breaks the UK's top 40 in 2002." K mag July 2008
"Lets compare 4/4 and 12/8. Both have 4 beats. In 4/4 there are 4 crotches or 8 quavers, but in 12/8 there are 12 quavers, grouped into 4 groups of 3. Compound time signatures as these have distinctive rhythm or "bounce""The Little Book of Music Theory and Musical Terms
I'm not having a go at ya boob junkie, it's just when timewarp came out my m8 told me it was 12/8 and i was like "waaaahhhh???" I went and did my homework/research and found out it actually is!!! i was a sceptic at first but its right. I love pursuing knowledge and being told what I think is wrong if the argument fits. But this is simple musical and mathematical fact. If you really don't believe me go and ask any music professor or even sub focus or andy c for that matter. I have no hard feelings on this debate I just know i'm right and don't like it when people are very sure of a fallacy.
I hope this music lesson has not been too geeky for sum of u and i hope its clear.
