This Saturday we’re celebrating 18 years in the business and it’s got us feeling all nostalgic. A lot has happened in this genre of ours in the last 18 years, but it’s healthy as ever. What makes drum & bass exciting is that it’s constantly evolving, and producers are pushing the boundaries and sending the genre into uncharted territory, providing a seemingly endless stream of creativity and evoking emotions you we seem to associate with any other genre.
There’s no doubt there’s something special about drum & bass, and this weekend we’ll be celebrating every inch of the genre. We’ll be partying to a soundtrack provided by the likes of Matrix & Futurebound, Fabio & Grooverider, Black Sun Empire, Brookes Brothers, DC Breaks, Rene LaVice and A.M.C, and with only 3 days to go until the event we caught up with Matrix & Futurebound to get them to reflect on their top ten tracks from the last 18 years….
LTJ Bukem – Music
It’s a little bit older than 18 years but we had to put this one in. There was just nothing else like it at the time and it defined a whole new direction for Drum & Bass, bringing a lot more emphasis to the melodic side of things.
Foul Play – Being With You
Foul Play were way ahead of their time and this record still sounds amazing today. It came out on Moving Shadow records and pretty much every single one of their releases around that time was an anthem.
Alex Reece – Pulp Fiction
Simplicity is the key here. Alex Reece just had this ability to take two or three sounds and turn them into a really powerful track.
Ed Rush & Optical – Wormhole LP
Without a doubt, this is one of the most innovative and influential Drum & Bass albums of all time. A raw, futuristic and uncompromising combination of breakbeat funk and techno that paved the way for lots of D&B records being made today.
Moving Fusion – Turbulence
This record really captures the RAM Records sound of the late 90’s. The way the drums and bass just work together to deliver a perfect groove. There’s no nonsense here. Just pure dancefloor energy.
Hatiras – Spaced Invader (J Majik Remix)
One of the first Drum & Bass tracks to use disco samples. This track used to just destroy the place.
Bad Company – Planet Dust
Following on from the sound that Ed Rush & Optical created, along came Bad Company who took things to another level again. This track still rocks the house today.
The Prodigy – Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix)
This was around the time when Pendulum were first blowing up. Combining their massive production with one of the biggest names in dance music could only mean one thing – a massive anthem.
Sub Focus – Out Of The Blue
We could have picked lots of Sub Focus tracks because he is a genius.
Wilkinson – Afterglow
A nice bit of old school flavour to the production but still feels bang up to date. The vocals from Becky Hill are just pure class. A huge crossover hit but still super cool. A perfect way to introduce Drum & Bass to the masses.
Tickets for our 18th birthday at Ministry of Sound are available here. Come and celebrate drum & bass history!
