Going through my parents record collection one day in the late nineties I stumbled across a series of Blaxploitation compilations, one of which included the smooth jazz of Bob James' 'Westchester Lady', a track that I instantly recognised as the source of the main riff from 'Circles'. Discovering this began my obsession with DnB sample spotting so it is about time I take a look at this classic track, one which really made Adam F's name on the scene.
Beginning with a double bass riff over synthetic strings, the five note keyboard motif from 'Westchester Lady' is quickly introduced before a "Check Check Check Check" vocal taken from Blackstreet's 'Physical Thing' brings in 'Do The Do' drums. This break, taken from Kurtis Blow's 'Do The Do', became synonymous with so-called "intelligent" drum'n'bass in the mid-nineties and is also known by the names of some of the tracks that used it - 'Kid Caprice' (Wax Doctor), 'Horizons' (LTJ Bukem) and of course 'Circles'. Still riding this break the track shifts to a melodic 808 bassline with uplifting pads and female vocal samples from Tameka Starr's 'Going In Circles' and is almost as smooth as the Bob James track it samples.
A very limited one sided 12" with a remix from Adam F was put out by Section 5 in '96 and is now a collector's item. It has been remixed a few more times over the years with a tasty Roni Size and Andy C doubleheader being released in '97.
One of those tracks that was popular across the board, regularly dropped everywhere from Metalheadz's Blue Note Sessions and Bukem & Fabio's Speed nights to raves such as Helter Skelter and Dreamscape. Still played today, you can hear it in this Kenny Ken & Randall set with MC Fearless from a Moondance night last year.