[Chaotic Electronic Music] A Collection of Classic Drill ’n’ Bass Tracks
If you’re familiar with the electronic music scene of the 1990s, you’ve probably heard of the genre known as “drill ’n’ bass.” In English it’s written as “Drill ’n’ bass.” While it’s hard to pin down musically, it’s characterized by rhythm patterns and programming even more complex than drum and bass, yet with a chaotic atmosphere rather than a heated groove.
Although it influenced genres like breakcore and glitch, there aren’t actually many works that are pure drill ’n’ bass.
In this article, we’ve selected and introduced essential drill ’n’ bass classics you should know first.
If you’re interested, please have a look!
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[Chaotic Electronic Music] A Selection of Classic Drill ’n’ Bass Tracks (1–10)
Brace Yourself Jasonμ-Ziq
Alongside Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, and Plug, an indispensable figure in any discussion of drill ’n’ bass is the UK-born techno musician Mike Paradinas.
Among the many works he released under his most famous artist name, μ-Ziq, Lunatic Harness (1997) holds particular significance within drill ’n’ bass.
Lauded as a classic, it received a 25th-anniversary edition in 2022, and a listen through the album quickly makes it clear that drill ’n’ bass is only one facet of its sound.
The opening track, Brace Yourself Jason—later released as an EP—startles with its irregular breakbeats and disarmingly simple, beautiful melodies, and stands as a quintessential example of the drill ’n’ bass style.
Start with this track, and if it resonates with you, be sure to explore the full album!
Hangable Auto BulbAFX
It’s well known that Richard D.
James, aka Aphex Twin, has released works under many aliases, but the EP Hangable Auto Bulb, released in 1995 under the AFX name, is also renowned as a landmark of early drill ’n’ bass.
Having pioneered genres like ambient techno and what came to be known as IDM, and developed a uniquely inventive strain of techno music, this was Richard’s first work to incorporate high-speed breakbeats into his sound.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the musical style presented here helped define drill ’n’ bass.
The weightless atmosphere and utterly undanceable, irregular breakbeats heard on the title track have a transportive effect, carrying first-time listeners off to another world.
Incidentally, the title of the release is an anagram of Richard’s earliest work, Analogue Bubblebath.
PalidAnimals on Wheels
Animals on Wheels is a solo project by artist Andrew Coleman, based in Cambridge, UK.
After releasing several works in the late 1990s, he appears to have shifted his focus to online activity from 2012, putting out tracks primarily on SoundCloud.
His first album, Designs And Mistakes, released in 1997 on the prestigious Ninja Tune label, presents a highly intriguing musical vision.
It was actually released domestically in Japan as well, and since the obi strip featured the term “drill ’n’ bass,” it’s worth noting that this is how it was introduced there at the time.
The allure of its meticulously constructed sonic world—abstract synths, irregular breakbeats, and jazz elements resonant with Squarepusher—should come across just by listening to the track Palid featured in this article.
[Chaotic Electronic Music] A Collection of Classic Drill’n’Bass Tracks (11–20)
Chomp SambaAmon Tobin
Brazilian musician Amon Tobin has been active since the 1990s as one of the flagship artists on the prestigious Ninja Tune label.
A solitary figure in the best sense, he has continued to release remarkable music across many fields—not only electronic music, but also film scores and contemporary music.
His early works show drill ’n’ bass-like elements, and his highly acclaimed 1997 album Bricolage—praised by many music media—blends drum and bass, jungle, and trip-hop with jazz to create an original sound that can also be interpreted as having a drill ’n’ bass sensibility.
The track featured here, Chomp Samba, is a celebrated piece that was also released as a single, and its chaotic world where jazz and breakbeats intertwine may come as a surprise, especially to first-time listeners.
FlutterAutechre
Autechre is a British techno unit consisting of Sean Booth and Rob Brown.
They are known for an experimental and cutting-edge style influenced by electro-funk, hip-hop, and acid house.
“Flutter,” included on their second studio album Amber, released in 1994 on the renowned electronica label Warp Records, is a track that offers a complex, almost philosophical sound.
Autechre has also had a significant influence on musicians from other genres, such as the rock band Radiohead.
Angry DolphinPlaid
Plaid, active since the early 1990s, is an electronic music duo from London.
They’re veterans who continue to make music into the 2020s, and some may know them for composing the score to the 2006 animated film Tekkonkinkreet.
While their sound is rooted in techno and remarkably diverse—so they aren’t necessarily representative artists of drill ’n’ bass—this time I’d like to introduce a track that plays like a prototype for the style.
Angry Dolphin, included on the 1995 EP Android, features intricately constructed breakbeats and rhythmic approaches that differ from the contemporary drum ’n’ bass of the time.
It’s unclear whether they consciously set out to distinguish themselves from drum ’n’ bass, but including the somewhat wistful melody that appears in the middle section, I urge you to revisit how a track like this was already emerging as early as 1995.
CutPlug
Plug is the stage name used by British musician and producer Luke Vibert.
The track “Cut” by Plug is included on the 1996 studio album Drum ‘n’ Bass for Papa, where you can enjoy a straight-up, classic drill ‘n’ bass/drum and bass sound.
Incidentally, the album received very high acclaim, including being ranked 33rd on NME’s Best Albums of the Year list.
In addition to Plug, Luke Vibert has released music under various other aliases such as Amen Andrews, Kerrier District, and Spac Hand Luke, so if you’re interested, be sure to check those out too!