memories of the future
December 19, 2015 12:37 PM Subscribe
Over the past 15 years drum & bass has become a sort of black sheep in the dance music family — too hard for the uninitiated while converts seem content with the smug satisfaction of ‘getting it.’
“Outsiders to drum & bass need something interesting to make them have a look and dig,” he explains. “I’m not sure what that could be these days."
“Outsiders to drum & bass need something interesting to make them have a look and dig,” he explains. “I’m not sure what that could be these days."
There is such a thing as d'n'b that is not jungle. (Whatever the caption says, heh.)
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:57 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:57 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Thanks for this article - I love dnb, but I'm terrible at following trends. I only recognize half the names and labels in the article, which makes me happy for new music and sounds. Surprised there's not even a mention of Hospital Records, but they're "old-timers," being founded in 1996 and all.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:41 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 1:41 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
While I loves me some EDM, I never ever could get on board with D&B for some reason. "The metal of electronic music" sounds about right.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:03 PM on December 19, 2015
posted by Thorzdad at 2:03 PM on December 19, 2015
If dnb is the metal, what is Breakcore ;)
posted by symbioid at 2:09 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by symbioid at 2:09 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
I realized that I didn't ever get D&B until I was at a club that was playing it... You need the right sound system to fully appreciate it; you should feel the bass.
Also, while I don't consider myself a fan of the genre, I am a huge fan of Amon Tobin - that music is the best 'soundtrack to life' music I've ever heard (and it's no coincidence that he's done a bunch of soundtrack work, both for TV and movies).
posted by el io at 2:16 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, while I don't consider myself a fan of the genre, I am a huge fan of Amon Tobin - that music is the best 'soundtrack to life' music I've ever heard (and it's no coincidence that he's done a bunch of soundtrack work, both for TV and movies).
posted by el io at 2:16 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
I always thought of dnb as the hardcore punk of the edm world. It's fast and aggressive and the people who dance to it look like they are moshing, at least the young people I saw in LA dancing to it at Concrete Jungle (SpaceLand). It also seemed to be a pre-domnantly male scene. Lots of sweaty shirtless dudes on the dance floor. But I guess you could also say that about house music.
posted by cazoo at 2:18 PM on December 19, 2015
posted by cazoo at 2:18 PM on December 19, 2015
The tech/neuro access is definitely the metal of dance music- there's also the whole liquid/soul/jazz side (though I guess there is chill metal too) and the straight up ravey stuff.
posted by atoxyl at 2:26 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by atoxyl at 2:26 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
If dnb is the metal, what is Breakcore ;)
I have no idea: it's not in this guide. (which autocompleted when I typed in 'flash guide to' in google)
posted by el io at 2:29 PM on December 19, 2015
I have no idea: it's not in this guide. (which autocompleted when I typed in 'flash guide to' in google)
posted by el io at 2:29 PM on December 19, 2015
Yep, Ishkur's guide. So many hours clicking around that thing.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:40 PM on December 19, 2015
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:40 PM on December 19, 2015
While I loves me some EDM, I never ever could get on board with D&B for some reason
I used to like listening to it when it was around, but was never anywhere near light-footed enough to not be embarrassed by trying to actually dance to it. I'd start out sort of hopping, wind up sort of skanking, and end up mostly nodding by the bar.
posted by cotton dress sock at 2:45 PM on December 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
I used to like listening to it when it was around, but was never anywhere near light-footed enough to not be embarrassed by trying to actually dance to it. I'd start out sort of hopping, wind up sort of skanking, and end up mostly nodding by the bar.
posted by cotton dress sock at 2:45 PM on December 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
Oddly (and rather annoyingly), the Wikipedia entry on Ishkur's guide has been cut down to a stub that simply praises the site, compared to older versions of the article that include the notes that it's just one guy's hasty, cheeky effort to tie things together, not meant to be a proper or decent history and family tree of electronic music. I'm not hating on it, I just wish there were a disclaimer on the site "don't take this as the truth, it's just how things fit together for me." That said, it is good in how broad it is, noting that there's more than techno, trance, and hardcore.
I first took "metal of electronic music" to mean that it has evolved to contain multitudes, to the point where there's something for (just about) everyone, but I see that people are taking it to mean "aggressive, brutal." Sure, there's plenty of that, but there's also jazzy, mellow stuff, atmospheric and symphonic, and lots of other things that aren't full-on aggro.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:50 PM on December 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
I first took "metal of electronic music" to mean that it has evolved to contain multitudes, to the point where there's something for (just about) everyone, but I see that people are taking it to mean "aggressive, brutal." Sure, there's plenty of that, but there's also jazzy, mellow stuff, atmospheric and symphonic, and lots of other things that aren't full-on aggro.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:50 PM on December 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
Ishkur's is a decade behind now unfortunately.
Anyway speaking of heavy, Noisia and The Upbeats are too established for inclusion in this article but they released possibly the biggest thing I've ever heard this year, from the Messiah-esque (Konflict, not Handel) distorted reese drop to the fucking drums.
posted by atoxyl at 2:50 PM on December 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
Anyway speaking of heavy, Noisia and The Upbeats are too established for inclusion in this article but they released possibly the biggest thing I've ever heard this year, from the Messiah-esque (Konflict, not Handel) distorted reese drop to the fucking drums.
posted by atoxyl at 2:50 PM on December 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
I love me some drum'n'bass, though I don't know as much about it as I ought to. If it's the metal or hardcore of the electronic music world though (and isn't there an EDM genre actually called hardcore already?) what is the particular metal/punk equivalent to something like Goldie's Timeless?
posted by Dysk at 2:55 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Dysk at 2:55 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ishkur's guide is incredibly useful to shush the "all electronic music is the same" crowd. Yes, some of the compartments are so small you barely could fit a finger, but having to explain there's a huge difference between Boards of Canada, Carl Cox, Washed Out, Skrillex, Daft Punk and Eno kind of gets frustrating because after a while it goes to "IT DOESN'T HAEV GUITARS IT SUCKS!!!1!"
posted by lmfsilva at 3:19 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lmfsilva at 3:19 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
If dnb is the metal, what is Breakcore ;)
Grindcore. Or power violence.
posted by solarion at 3:22 PM on December 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
Grindcore. Or power violence.
posted by solarion at 3:22 PM on December 19, 2015 [3 favorites]
I vote for black metal as a breakcore equivalent.
posted by Dysk at 3:25 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Dysk at 3:25 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
el io: "If dnb is the metal, what is Breakcore ;)
I have no idea: it's not in this guide. (which autocompleted when I typed in 'flash guide to' in google)"
Well - in Ishkur the closest you'll get is the Hardcore section. Though I'd say breakcore is an evolution of jungle via ragga to raggecore and combined with gabber/hardcore elements. But I was mostly making a joke, not meant to push to hard on the topic.
Personally I love neuro/techstep aggressive style of dnb as well as the jazzier stylings of someone like LTJ Bukem. It's all so wonderful :)
posted by symbioid at 3:27 PM on December 19, 2015
I have no idea: it's not in this guide. (which autocompleted when I typed in 'flash guide to' in google)"
Well - in Ishkur the closest you'll get is the Hardcore section. Though I'd say breakcore is an evolution of jungle via ragga to raggecore and combined with gabber/hardcore elements. But I was mostly making a joke, not meant to push to hard on the topic.
Personally I love neuro/techstep aggressive style of dnb as well as the jazzier stylings of someone like LTJ Bukem. It's all so wonderful :)
posted by symbioid at 3:27 PM on December 19, 2015
End the tyranny of Core! The future is Hardmantle and Breakcrust!
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:32 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:32 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
I always confuse power violence with power noise.
posted by atoxyl at 3:36 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by atoxyl at 3:36 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
lmfsilva: kind of gets frustrating because after a while it goes to "IT DOESN'T HAEV GUITARS IT SUCKS!!!1!"
I know - there's such a weird backlash against "electronica" in the US (primarily). Personally, I'm the complete opposite - "shit, more guitars? I don't care, it's all starting to sound the same, give me something new." (In fact, I've sang the wrong lyrics to Radiohead for years: "I'll be in a band when I get to heaven, anyone can play guitar, it won't be nothing any more." When I actually looked at the lyrics, I decided I liked my version more.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:50 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
I know - there's such a weird backlash against "electronica" in the US (primarily). Personally, I'm the complete opposite - "shit, more guitars? I don't care, it's all starting to sound the same, give me something new." (In fact, I've sang the wrong lyrics to Radiohead for years: "I'll be in a band when I get to heaven, anyone can play guitar, it won't be nothing any more." When I actually looked at the lyrics, I decided I liked my version more.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:50 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]
This year I've been getting into Gray Area stuff like Akkord and Samurai Music, a label that has some overlap with a kind of post-jump-up evolution of D&B.
posted by rhizome at 4:08 PM on December 19, 2015
posted by rhizome at 4:08 PM on December 19, 2015
I first took "metal of electronic music" to mean that it has evolved to contain multitudes, to the point where there's something for (just about) everyone, but I see that people are taking it to mean "aggressive, brutal."
Both of those things ;)
The Dungeonmaster’s Guide kind of makes the Metal as in heavy analogy clear for me. It’s pretty freakin "devil horns in the air" headbanger music. But yeah, there is another whole world out there.
I think this from the last article makes the point though;
Machinedrum points to dance music’s roots in disco as one reason why there might be a schism between those worlds. “I think it’s closer to hip-hop than house or even dance music in general,” he says. It’s an idea echoed by the Ivy Lab trio. “Most of the people you end up meeting come into drum & bass through metal or hip-hop,” says Stray.
In general, whether it’s the head banging or head nodding type it’s still not really "dance" music in the way House is. As someone who grew up on Metal and early Hip Hop and later became a huge Dub fan, DnB scratches a lot of spots all at once.
Love the last article, but what happened to the practice of putting the mentioned resources at the end?
posted by bongo_x at 4:09 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Both of those things ;)
The Dungeonmaster’s Guide kind of makes the Metal as in heavy analogy clear for me. It’s pretty freakin "devil horns in the air" headbanger music. But yeah, there is another whole world out there.
I think this from the last article makes the point though;
Machinedrum points to dance music’s roots in disco as one reason why there might be a schism between those worlds. “I think it’s closer to hip-hop than house or even dance music in general,” he says. It’s an idea echoed by the Ivy Lab trio. “Most of the people you end up meeting come into drum & bass through metal or hip-hop,” says Stray.
In general, whether it’s the head banging or head nodding type it’s still not really "dance" music in the way House is. As someone who grew up on Metal and early Hip Hop and later became a huge Dub fan, DnB scratches a lot of spots all at once.
Love the last article, but what happened to the practice of putting the mentioned resources at the end?
posted by bongo_x at 4:09 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
Gah. Too clean. All BOP dap -- BOPdap WHIZZZZZZ WOOOORRRRNNNG. Too much gating on the drums, sheen and glisten on the synths.
Drum & Bass is this. Squawky, squealy, full of dub & dancehall stylings, basslines like a hand smashing you flat in a cavern...
posted by prismatic7 at 4:12 PM on December 19, 2015
Drum & Bass is this. Squawky, squealy, full of dub & dancehall stylings, basslines like a hand smashing you flat in a cavern...
posted by prismatic7 at 4:12 PM on December 19, 2015
I love the jungle and drum & bass that started arriving in the US in the mid-90's, being that it synced with a significant time in my life. And I loved dancing to that stuff! A track from that time was always subtly mutating, and if I was bored dancing to what was going at the moment, all you had to do was wait 30 seconds and something else would pop up.
While present d'n'b may show the influence of metal and hip-hop, a lot of the early stuff was based on sped-up reggae and dub, which resulted in a subtle asynchronicity to the rhythm that I found quite sexy, and a lot of present-day d'n'b seems to have lost. In my humble opinion.
posted by King Sky Prawn at 5:49 PM on December 19, 2015
While present d'n'b may show the influence of metal and hip-hop, a lot of the early stuff was based on sped-up reggae and dub, which resulted in a subtle asynchronicity to the rhythm that I found quite sexy, and a lot of present-day d'n'b seems to have lost. In my humble opinion.
posted by King Sky Prawn at 5:49 PM on December 19, 2015
I know - there's such a weird backlash against "electronica" in the US (primarily).
It's not new. That backlash could be traced even back to the Disco Demolition era (and at the start, it was just very traditional string synthesizers at most), then to 80s pop, etc. That's the whole thing about ignorant rockism. Disliking, dunno, Hexstatic or Todd Terje* because Guetta exists in the broad world of "electronica" is the same as disliking Yo La Tengo and Iron Maiden because Nickelback exists in the same world of "guitar music".
In the end, instruments are devices designed to emit sound frequencies on a certain range and amplitude. Mastering the output of a VST on Ableton is as challenging as mastering a 15-unit pedalboard. On either cases one has the option to use a bunch of pre-packed samples and groove packs, or similarly anyway here's Wonderwall. People can do either fantastic things with either, or shit. It's just sound frequencies. That there's people with the idea that "electronic musicians press a button and boom, music completed" was one of the reasons I've quit a number of music communities over the years.
* (ok, I was disappointed when Terje came here last year he didn't brought The Olsens and Bryan Ferry, but shit, wish I could be dancing to Inspector Norse right now, and I'm a fat, miserable asshole.)
posted by lmfsilva at 6:06 PM on December 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
It's not new. That backlash could be traced even back to the Disco Demolition era (and at the start, it was just very traditional string synthesizers at most), then to 80s pop, etc. That's the whole thing about ignorant rockism. Disliking, dunno, Hexstatic or Todd Terje* because Guetta exists in the broad world of "electronica" is the same as disliking Yo La Tengo and Iron Maiden because Nickelback exists in the same world of "guitar music".
In the end, instruments are devices designed to emit sound frequencies on a certain range and amplitude. Mastering the output of a VST on Ableton is as challenging as mastering a 15-unit pedalboard. On either cases one has the option to use a bunch of pre-packed samples and groove packs, or similarly anyway here's Wonderwall. People can do either fantastic things with either, or shit. It's just sound frequencies. That there's people with the idea that "electronic musicians press a button and boom, music completed" was one of the reasons I've quit a number of music communities over the years.
* (ok, I was disappointed when Terje came here last year he didn't brought The Olsens and Bryan Ferry, but shit, wish I could be dancing to Inspector Norse right now, and I'm a fat, miserable asshole.)
posted by lmfsilva at 6:06 PM on December 19, 2015 [5 favorites]
el io: If dnb is the metal, what is Breakcore ;)
I have no idea: it's not in this guide.
This is a nice look at a range of breakcore about ten years ago.
posted by kilo hertz at 8:36 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have no idea: it's not in this guide.
This is a nice look at a range of breakcore about ten years ago.
posted by kilo hertz at 8:36 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
I did a Jungle set at a midwest house party in '97 that cleared the room except for the drunk Estonian exchange student who came running up to me screaming "I fucking love jungle".
These days it's my preferred workout music, nothing beats a good run to some old LTJ Bukem mixes.
posted by Divest_Abstraction at 8:37 PM on December 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
These days it's my preferred workout music, nothing beats a good run to some old LTJ Bukem mixes.
posted by Divest_Abstraction at 8:37 PM on December 19, 2015 [4 favorites]
+1 the Hospital Records recommendation by Filthy Light Thief. Those guys opened up DnB (and its many linked genres) to me.
A great place to start (esp if you have Spotify) are the two founder-commentated "best of" playlists they put out this year:
• Fast Jungle Music (occasionally minimal, superbly executed): https://open.spotify.com/album/3sAypuJUtip7U7hdSy1dfk
• Fast Soul Music (more liquid, spacious and floaty): https://open.spotify.com/album/1BVCz2FZC5HUenbdgT76Mr
Lots of fun, enthusiastic descriptions (in suitably geezer-esque accents). You can really hear the genuine respect, passion and care they have for their artists.
They might be "old-timers" but they've got keen ears.
posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 4:52 AM on December 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
A great place to start (esp if you have Spotify) are the two founder-commentated "best of" playlists they put out this year:
• Fast Jungle Music (occasionally minimal, superbly executed): https://open.spotify.com/album/3sAypuJUtip7U7hdSy1dfk
• Fast Soul Music (more liquid, spacious and floaty): https://open.spotify.com/album/1BVCz2FZC5HUenbdgT76Mr
Lots of fun, enthusiastic descriptions (in suitably geezer-esque accents). You can really hear the genuine respect, passion and care they have for their artists.
They might be "old-timers" but they've got keen ears.
posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 4:52 AM on December 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
The future is Hardmantle and Breakcrust!
I'm still waiting for the Clownstep revival.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:07 PM on December 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm still waiting for the Clownstep revival.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:07 PM on December 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Non-conformist EDM: breakstep.
posted by Dysk at 3:34 PM on December 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Dysk at 3:34 PM on December 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
+1 the Hospital Records recommendation by Filthy Light Thief. Those guys opened up DnB (and its many linked genres) to me.
Yep, Hospital Records got me into DnB too. And sometimes DnB can be the Classical of electronic music:
Keeno - Nocturne and Golden Light
posted by mmoncur at 11:04 PM on December 20, 2015
Yep, Hospital Records got me into DnB too. And sometimes DnB can be the Classical of electronic music:
Keeno - Nocturne and Golden Light
posted by mmoncur at 11:04 PM on December 20, 2015
I am assuming all swaying souls who call DnB "Metal" are really talking about dubstep and I pray for them.
posted by 3mendo at 5:26 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by 3mendo at 5:26 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I love drum and bass! You need to figure out how to dance to it (there's a skank involved). It's just a question of finding the right rhythm. As others have said up thread, it really needs to be heard in the right environment to be appreciated (I would say this is the case for almost all dance music though). Being in a good crowd dancing to good dance music played by a skilled DJ is a truly amazing experience.
Unfortunately in the UK most DnB nights I've been to have been full of a very particular type of snap back and adidas wearing man with a tendency to remove their top (and the crowd is probably 80% male as well), which I think puts off most of my female friends from going to them. I can see why people are put off by the scene - you have to be a pretty devoted clubber to be comfortable in that environment. At a festival (with a slightly different kind of crowd) it's awesome though!
Hospital Record has a good stable of producers which aren't just producing generic DnB. Etherwood is interesting, more chilled out, and S.P.Y makes awesome basslines.
posted by leo_r at 8:58 AM on December 21, 2015
Unfortunately in the UK most DnB nights I've been to have been full of a very particular type of snap back and adidas wearing man with a tendency to remove their top (and the crowd is probably 80% male as well), which I think puts off most of my female friends from going to them. I can see why people are put off by the scene - you have to be a pretty devoted clubber to be comfortable in that environment. At a festival (with a slightly different kind of crowd) it's awesome though!
Hospital Record has a good stable of producers which aren't just producing generic DnB. Etherwood is interesting, more chilled out, and S.P.Y makes awesome basslines.
posted by leo_r at 8:58 AM on December 21, 2015
Thanks for the Etherwood recommendation leo_r! I just bought two of their albums and it's great stuff.
posted by mmoncur at 4:52 AM on December 22, 2015
posted by mmoncur at 4:52 AM on December 22, 2015
Disliking, dunno, Hexstatic or Todd Terje* because Guetta exists in the broad world of "electronica" is the same as disliking Yo La Tengo and Iron Maiden because Nickelback exists in the same world of "guitar music".
People really aren’t very adventurous in their musical tastes in general. I’m not talking about "difficult" music, I mean anything different than what they’re used to.
posted by bongo_x at 10:38 AM on December 22, 2015
People really aren’t very adventurous in their musical tastes in general. I’m not talking about "difficult" music, I mean anything different than what they’re used to.
posted by bongo_x at 10:38 AM on December 22, 2015
Thanks for the Etherwood recommendation leo_r! I just bought two of their albums and it's great stuff.
You'll probably like Smith & Mighty and More Rockers if you don't already know them.
Rainbows
Show Love
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:42 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
You'll probably like Smith & Mighty and More Rockers if you don't already know them.
Rainbows
Show Love
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:42 PM on December 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
I converted the YouTube playlist into a Spotify playlist the best I could. I think two or three tracks were missing, and some YT links were entire albums, so I replaced them with the opening tracks.
posted by dst at 12:54 AM on December 27, 2015
posted by dst at 12:54 AM on December 27, 2015
The culture of 2005ish drum 'n bass was really, really similar to the culture of hair metal at the end of it's era. (Or glam metal, or whatever.) So, prior to most dubstep; Burial just put out his first album, and Bassnectar was moving away from breaks, but dubstep hadn't really hit yet.
I was on the East Coast, so the West Coast or EU might have been a lot different, but yeah.
posted by talldean at 8:15 AM on December 27, 2015
I was on the East Coast, so the West Coast or EU might have been a lot different, but yeah.
posted by talldean at 8:15 AM on December 27, 2015
Talkin' Headz - The Metalheadz Documentary (1998)
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:29 PM on December 27, 2015
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:29 PM on December 27, 2015
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posted by bongo_x at 12:56 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]