Shanks and Bigfoot - Sweet like Chocolate
Pepper Records
Every Trance lover and his dog remembers the big bang of 98/99, for some it
was another turning on the clubland road, for most it was a gift from the
gods themselves. The club scene was big already, there no denying that, but
trance took things to a whole new level, something a form of dance music has
never been able to recreate.
At the back end of the explosion another form of dance music appeared on the
scene, 2 step or UK garage as it.s now known as. There was a time when 2 step
was accepted within the trance scene so to speak. Dave Pearce regularly featured
2 step in his Dance Anthems show on Radio 1 and it featured on his CD.s of the
same name. Whilst many of us will immediately shun this genre you.d probably be
lying if you can.t own up to liking Artful Dodger, Dj Luck or NNG.
In my opinion the most renowned UK garage track of all time would have to be
Shanks & Bigfoot . Sweet like Chocolate. Sure its shit, but the run up and the
fortnight or so after its release it was the biggest track of its type.
I remember first hearing it on Dance Anthems late 1999/early 2000. Dave introduced
the track as .something a little different that.s causing a stir in clubland.
and by heck he was right. Within a month the one off play turned into twice during
the same show and this was only the tip of the iceberg.
The Box soon got its gritty hands on the video and within days it became the
most played track during any given day, in fact, it was whilst watching the
video I met my first love, we both showed a common interest in shutting everyone
up to sing along like a couple of dick heads.
Before long every radio station in the UK thrashed it, to death. Every boy racer
speeding round the town center blasted it out of their over priced stereos and
every teenage girl I walked past whistled the bloody chorus.
Then it got its release... Then it got thrown in the trash. Much like Whigfield
or the "touch my bum sisters" the moment had passed, no one was interested any
more. Alas a victim of its own success.
But what about the track itself? It starts off with a pop pop beat, something
you.d expect from a Blue Peter .This is how you make dance music kids. kinda
thing. A few high hats then strings during the break down. The softly spoken
vocals make an appearance before the sharp turn into heavy (by heavy I mean
the bass line) 2 step.
The vocals aren.t nor have ever been anything to shout about. Simple stuff
really, more like nursery rhymes. The chorus is catchy, .da da da da da da
da. over and over again on different keys, its something you won.t forget in
a hurry, even if you.d like to.
The extended version of the track features a lengthy break down of a woman
umm.ing and arrr.ing before kicking back in with the all too familiar beat.
This was an incredibly catchy track, for those that have never heard it before
and aren.t really into music, they.ll probably find it just as catchy as we did
back then. Its shit, but I personally find it good shit, something I play on
the odd occasion, kinda bring back fond memories n that. I.m sure if you thought
about it for five minutes or so, you could relate it to something positive in
your life.
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Review by Graham
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