Drop Another Depth Charge.

 

It's been said that Depth Charge invented big beat. 

 

 

In 1989, Depth Charge aka J Saul Kane (R.I.P.), a 20-year old west Londoner released the single Bounty Killers which featured hefty breakbeats & samples of dialogue from old Westerns. Back then it was the first of its kind...

Dedicated to the memory of Sergio Leone.

Depth Charge - Bounty Killers, Vinyl Solutions STORM13, 1989.
all decryption codes in comments

Gun Shot Wound Side (45rpm)-     
Bounty Killers

Blood Bath Side (33.3rpm)-    
Death is Ma Name    
The Bit in the Middle
Bounty Killers (Measly 1000 Bucks version)

 

 

 

 

The following years it was horror movies that get the touch on Dead by Dawn. The Dub mix ends with a defiant line from 1968s Mad Doctor of Blood Island: 
         "I will not give up the work of a lifetime... simply because you think I'm mad!" 

 
As with much of Depth Charge's releases, this can be played a either 33.3 or 45rpm. The above mentioned ''Dead yt Dub'' for example becomes a hardcore breakbeat romp at 45, a trick employed by many DJs at the time.

..

Depth Charge - Dead by Dawn, Vinyl Solution STORM15, 1990.

Dead Side -    
Dead by Dawn

Space Side -    
Space Mutant    
Dead by Dub

 

 

 

 

This one is just what it sez. IMO the B-side (get a whiff of this) will melt your face off,,, 

Depth Charge - Bounty Killer (The Sequel), Vinyl Solution STORM50, 1992.

White Star side -
Bounty Killer (The Sequel)

Red Star side -
Nectar

 

 

 

 

J. Saul Kane soon teamed up with Alain from Vinyl Solution & started their own label (run by James Dyer at 231 Portobello Road, London) called D.C. Recordings. Their catch-phrase was "leading the youth down a path of musical ruin".

Legend of the Golden Snake was D.C. Recordings' debut release. It represented a significant maturation in Depth Charge's distinctive brand of leftfield breaks, with the introduction of classically-trained musicians, greater melodic complexity, & slicker production.

The title track features mysterious, meandering melodies plucked out on an archaic Middle-Eastern oud set to two alternating trip-hop drum patterns, a heavy bassline, & quirky electronics. This juxtaposition of old with new was innovative & sophisticated, developing Depth Charge's sound beyond the usual mix of big beats, poppy melodies, pulp fiction dialogue. Legend also featured the debut of Henry Twinch on Hammond organ. Twitch would go on to become one of Kane's long-term collaborators

.

Depth Charge - Legend of the Golden Snake EP, D.C. Recordings DC01, 1995.

Side A -
Legend of the Golden Snake
Poison Clan '95

Side B -
Five Deadly Venoms
Asp

 

 

 

 

The separately-released, stripped-back 10" Dub versions (version 2) continued the Legend into darker, heavier territory.

 

Depth Charge - Legend of the Golden Snake 2, D.C. Recordings 10DC01, 1995.

Side A -
Legend of the Golden Snake (version 2)

Side AA -
Sex, Sluts, & Heaven (Bordello mix)

 

 

 

 

Released the same year, Shaolin Buddha Finger set a template for '90s big beat with its loud, multi-layered break-beats, infectious bassline, adventurous electronics, & vocal soundbites.The intricately-crafted drums sample heavy jazz-funk records such as St. Vincent Latinaires' Roasted or Fried, with dialogue taken from the 1983 Kung Fu film Shaolin vs Lama. 

 

Depth Charge - Shaolin Buddha Finger, D.C. Recordings DC05, 1995.

Side A -
Shaolin Buddha Finger

Side B -        
Vampyress (demo Dub)

 

 

 

 

While Depth Charge's output had previously consisted mainly of slower, Dub-influenced trip hop, Shaolin Buddah Finger marked a point of diversification into more dancefloor-friendly big beat that would continue with Bounty Killer III & beyond. 

 

Depth Charge - Bounty Killer III, D.C. Recordings DC24, 1999.

Side A -
Bounty Killer III (The Eyes of Johnny Ringo)

Side B -
I...Always Do
T.D.A. (Handbreak mix)
I...Always Do (drum reprise)

 

 

 

Enjoy,
NØ