WTF is a roller?!

D-Jhepz

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Can you please define wtf a "roller" actually is... I've seen breaks called roller and what not and i think i got the jist... seriously can you properly define its characteristics...

I've been told no dark and neuro stuff, only rollers and with a bit of jump up... :(
 
imo everyone has a different (subjective) point of view what's a roller. and there is no "official" characteristics. for me a roller is something like dj zinc's ska or casino royale.
 
Simple, it's something that sounds like it rolls on. Hence the term roller.
Nothing with any start and stop sounding rhythms.
Think dj die - slow burn. Stuff that flows like that by not necessarily sounds like that.

It's about how it flows not how it sounds.
 
Not really. Rollers are usually quite stripped back tunes, mainly focussing on the drums and bassline. They keep the energy going without peaking the set or having any massive build ups, drops or changes. You can't play anthem after anthem otherwise the impact is lost, so the rollers are to go in between.




 
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Seabees_compactor_roller.jpg
 
for me a roller is when the beat and bassline dont make the tune sound bouncey. Vicious Circle - kings of the rollers.

but its such a broad term though cos i would still consider this a roller and it sounds completely different


probably easier to define what a roller isnt..

...that definitely isnt a roller
 
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i always considered a roller to be a simple sounding uncomplicated tune with rolling beats (obviously) and with a bit of funk,no big breakdowns ect...

but now with all the gazillions of dnb sub genres i suppose it's possible for each one to have it's own take on a roller.


for me this tune epitomises what a roller is all about, Kenny Ken - Watertight http://www52.zippyshare.com/v/98979217/file.html

as for more recent stuff i'd go with Spectrasoul - The Gift
 
nobody mentioned enei & kasra - so real?
or xtrah - set the levels, commix - be true, dbridge - true romance

dunno at least that would be my definition, could be im absolutely wrong though, if so please tell me

edit: ok i was more thinking about the basslines, if its about the drums then obviously not
 
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nobody mentioned enei & kasra - so real?
or xtrah - set the levels, commix - be true, dbridge - true romance

dunno at least that would be my definition, could be im absolutely wrong though, if so please tell me

True Romance and Be True, yeah, I'd say so. So Real and Set The Levels are the exact opposite of rollers imo, those skipping drums are hardly anywhere near the term "rolling".

Basically 95% of what Break releases

This. Splash Step is the perfect example of roller for me.
 
I thought a roller was a bass thing, just a really rolling bassline and simple drums. Ive been told this is wrong though...
IMO, a roller should sound like these:
Jubei - The Path

and

Vicious Circle - Emma's Dilemma
 
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