Live Review: Special Request ‘Amnesia’

Paul Woolford is back under his SPECIAL REQUEST guise for an XL Recordings release of his new jungle album, Modern Warfare. Yes, a whole album of jungle music.

In a time when the genre is largely side lined to questionable looking nights in questionable looking locations populated by middle-aged folk in questionable looking outfits, it’s a breath of fresh air to see that a major record label are giving a producer the space to curate a jungle-inspired body of work.

For the sceptics, bear with me. ‘Amnesia’ is a fantastic track with a big sound, intricately layered beat work and drizzled in hooks and catchy vocals. Just when your mind might be beginning to wander from the repetitive instrumentals, an unexpected voice comes in, dragging you up into a lighter section away from the dark impenetrable bass that’s rumbling along below.

Part of the Special Request concept is a celebration of nostalgia and dance music of lore. On ‘Amnesia’ we hear grimy bass rumbles and muffled MC voices that would sound clumsy in less experienced hands, but work so well in conjunction with the poppy piano melody and diva vocals: ‘Come together, we’ll make it work’. Special Request has done exactly that.

The rave-ready track comes as part of the Modern Warfare 1-3 EP series (with three tracks on each instalment), which drops on October 30.

Words by Katie Rowley

LISTEN TO MORE NEW MUSIC HERE

SEE ALSO:

SHIT ROBOT 'WE GOT A LOVE' (PAUL WOOLFORD REMIX)

JUNGLE 'THE HEAT' (JOY ORBISON REMIX)