S • W • C Sessions

Reloads - A Musing

The reload. When you start playing a tune, decide it's too big, then play it again. They're not for everyone. They are, to my knowledge, only apparent in dancehall (originally) dubstep, drum and bass, and garage (and associated genres such as funky and grime) and even people who play these genres are divided on them. Certainly, many people would never execute a reload, either because they don't want to damage a vinyl (sensible) or they think they're unnecessary, showy or simply break up the flow of a set (wet lettuce).

The technique of a reload varies. Some pull the tune backwards, creating the distinctive 'reload' sound. The ferocity of this action varies, probably depending on the occasion and the value of the vinyl. One technique is to simply pull the upfader down sharply (I have witnessed this technique used to fairly devastating effect by drum and bass pioneer and sellout shitbag Goldie.) Anything which takes the sound out will suffice, such as pressing the start/stop button, switching off the power of the deck, or removing the cable between the deck and mixer. The idea of a reload is to play the tune again, however (and probably quite quickly), so snapping the tone arm, throwing your speakers on a bed of spikes or setting fire to your bedroom aren't, strictly speaking, reload techniques.

Two notable reloads I know of are Jonny Cash, on his live from San Quentin album, playing the song San Quentin and then playing it again. An early reload. I don't know if Bach or Handel did reloads. Another notable reload (or series of reloads) is from a night at which there was a serious S • W • C and Playedio contingent, and good times were had by all.