6 seconds of drums inspired several sub-genres of music, clubs and internet radio streams dedicated to endless permutations of the amen break. It’s highly specialized sonic evolution. Now that I’ve learned about it a bit more, I can hear the amen samples in music, even when chopped up junglistically. The video is pretty cool, it’s narrated by a ‘dub plate,’ an acetate record only good for 50 playings or so before it destroys itself, positively primitive. I’d heard about the history of the Amen Break before, but not in this much detail, either that or my eyes glazed over the first time because I wasn’t yet smart enough to understand.
Tags: music