[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)
Military JazzPlug
Plug is the solo project of British musician and producer Luke Vibert.
Vibert is often hailed as a pioneer of drill ’n’ bass and has had a major influence on other musicians, including Aphex Twin.
Under the Plug moniker, the track “Military Jazz” showcases the genre’s hallmark: blisteringly fast drum programming.
Beyond Plug, Luke Vibert has released music under numerous aliases such as Wagon Christ, Vibert, Amen Andrews, and Kerrier District.
He continues to be active across genre boundaries, including hip-hop and acid house.
Come To DaddyAphex Twin
Aphex Twin is the solo project of Richard D.
James, an Irish-born British musician.
He is known for a wide range of styles, including not only drill ’n’ bass and drum ’n’ bass, but also ambient, electronica, and acid house.
Released in 1997, Aphex Twin’s Come To Daddy is notable for its fast-paced beats and aggressive sound.
Also worth highlighting is the horror-like music video, in which children with Richard D.
James’s face appear in a derelict setting.
The video was directed by filmmaker Chris Cunningham, who also created music videos for tracks like Windowlicker, so if you enjoy this one, be sure to check those out as well.
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.
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.