the jam

Today, I'm treating you to a great house track from Black Science Orchestra, who were mostly active in the mid- to late-90s. Though all their tracks are sickly good jazzy house, the first I ever heard of them was "Save Us (The Jam)," which appeared on the 1996 album, Walter's Room. Since it was this track that first turned me onto them, I thought I'd share it with you, though it is worth finding all of their releases.

"Save Us (The Jam)" is based on an excellent vocal/guitar loop, around which a very jazzy bass-line wanders. The 125-bpm kicks are nicely low in the mix, leaving room for rousing handclaps and crisp hi-hats to do their thing. Additionally, a synth that sounds strangely like the shenai, an aerophone used in classical Indian music, rides high over much of the track. Saxophone bleats and a refrain of people singing, "save us," enter into the track later on, along with xylophone, vibraphone and nice lush keyboards. A real classic with only one strike against it: it ends too soon!

Black Science Orchestra- Save Us (The Jam)

Next post, look forward to a Ron Hardy classic!