MOBO Award-winning drum ‘n’ bass icon Adam F is set to revisit his classic 1995 track “Circles,” described as “one of the greatest tracks to ever come out of England,” with a fresh new version releasing on Friday, August 9th via 181 Recordings.
The Circles Revisited version precedes the launch of Adam F’s upcoming rework album, Colours Revisited. This project sees the complete re-recording and revamping of his 1997 MOBO Award-winning debut album Colours, including the iconic “Circles.” For this reimagining, Adam F has enlisted top drum ‘n’ bass and jungle artists for a series of fresh ‘revisited reboots.’
In Circles Revisited, the acoustic bass, jazzy saxophone, and synths shine with a new intensity. The sub-bass and drum breaks are sharper than ever, with each ride, snare, and hi-hat sounding crisp and distinct.
Reflecting on the track’s nearly three-decade-long journey, Adam F shared his thoughts on how “Circles” has become a cornerstone of UK dance music: “Circles is one of the first tracks where I could express my influences with no boundaries,” he said. “The music became known as Drum ‘n’ Bass but started off as hardcore Rave and Jungle. One of the greatest things about it for me was that I could express myself through that medium using all my influences—funk, soul, reggae, and jazz—freely and unrestricted.”
Adam F also recounted a memorable moment when Gilles Peterson praised “Circles” during a live gig, calling it “One of the greatest tracks to ever come out of England.” He added, “Further proof came when I was sandwiched between Erykah Badu and Jamiroquai in Brazil, and the audience was singing along with my set. I was truly humbled.”
Adam Fenton, the Liverpool-born producer, musician, and songwriter, achieved early success with “Circles,” alongside other tracks like “Metropolis,” “Mother Earth,” and “F-Jam,” drawing from a rich mix of jazz, funk, soul, and reggae influences. Named one of the Top 5 Producers in the World by MTV, he has earned seven Gold and four Platinum-certified awards and won Best Album for Colours at the 1998 MOBO Awards.
In 2001, Adam F ventured into hip-hop, co-producing Dead Prez’s “It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop” with DJ Fresh and releasing the album Kaos: The Anti-Acoustic Warfare, featuring collaborations with LL Cool J, Redman, and De La Soul. After the success of Colours, Adam F took a break from releasing his own music and, along with DJ Fresh, launched record labels Kaos Recordings and Breakbeat Kaos in 2003. Breakbeat Kaos became a launching pad for staple names in modern drum ‘n’ bass, including Chase & Status, Pendulum, Nero, and DJ Fresh.
For drum ‘n’ bass enthusiasts, the release of Circles Revisited is a poignant moment. Be sure to dive into this revitalized version of “Circles” and keep an ear out for more of Adam F’s reimagined classics leading up to the February release of Colours Revisited.
Adam F: Instagram | Spotify
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