Tim Reaper
Triumphant March
LoDubs
Considering the size and breadth of his catalog, there are very few sounds and styles within the world of jungle and drum & bass that Tim Reaper hasn’t at least dabbled in at some point. At the same time, he’s never really been known as a ragga jungle guy, which makes his new Triumphant March 12-inch something of a surprise. Add in the fact that it’s arriving via LoDubs—a Portland-based label that, despite its predilection for low-end-heavy, UK-centric sounds, isn’t typically recognized as a jungle outpost—and this record feels doubly unexpected.
Luckily for everyone involved (including the listening audience), Triumphant March is a decidedly pleasant surprise, as its titular cut finds Reaper serving up dubbed-out vocal clips, reverb-drenched melodies and a wonky lead line that feels like a spiritual cousin to the Sleng Teng riddim. He may be based in London, but the island vibes are thick, even as his rambunctious drums do their best to mash up the dance. More meditative is Beatrice M.’s “Triumphant March” remix, which strips out many of the assorted ragga-isms and employs a shuffling beat pattern that sounds like something from an early Hessle Audio release. Is it as fun and carefree as Reaper’s original? Definitely not, but its slow burn and moody atmosphere are charming in their own right.