Based almost entirely in England, Jungle (also known as drum'n'bass) is a permutation of hardcore techno that emerged in the early '90s. Jungle is the most rhythmically complex of all forms of techno, relying on extremely fast polyrhythms and breakbeats. Usually, it's entirely instrumental -- it is among the hardest of all hardcore techno, often consisting of nothing but fast drum machines and deep bass. As its name implies, jungle does have more overt reggae, dub, and R&B influences than most hardcore -- and that is why some critics claimed that the music was the sound of black techno musicians and DJs reclaiming it from the white musicians and DJs who dominated the hardcore scene. Like most techno genres, jungle is primarily a singles genre designed for a small, dedicated audience, although the crossover successes of Goldie (with his 1995 debut Timeless) and Roni Size (with the Mercury Award-winning New Forms) suggested a broader appeal and more musical possibilities than other forms of techno. Dozens of respected artists followed in their wake, fusing breakbeat with influences lifted from jazz, film music, ambient, and trip-hop.
2-Step British Garage
Revving up the sweet sound of garage techno by adding ragga and diva vocals, constant rewinds, and DJ scratching along with spastic drum'n'bass rhythms, British Garage hit the London clubscene in 1996, gaining momentum from its Sunday-night status as a good end-of-the-week comedown to supplant jungle/drum'n'bass as the hotly tipped dance style of the late '90s. Known at various points in its evolution as speed garage, underground garage, and 2-step, the style was influenced by American producers like Todd Edwards, Armand Van Helden, and Romanthony. The sound grew as producers like the Tuff Jam crew, Dream Team, and RIP all recorded sizable club hits, some of which crossed over to the pop charts as well. By 1998, the style early known as speed garage had morphed into somewhat of a new phenomenon; dubbed 2-step, the style encompassed the sweeter pop leanings of R&B as well as increasingly fractured breakbeats. Among a raft of excellent producers (newcomers MJ Cole, Zed Bias, Wookie, and Sunship as well as more established figures like Tuff Jam, Dream Team, and Artful Dodger) and labels (Locked On, Nice 'N' Ripe, Quench, Grand Theft Audio, Naughty), the style proved surprisingly resistant to changing winds among the dance cognoscenti. Even while crossover hits like "Destiny" by Dem 2 and "Movin' Too Fast" by Artful Dodger raced up the charts and crossover compilations landed by the crateful, the dozens of pirate radio stations kept the style tight and edgy.
Industrial Drum n Bass
Reacting against industrial music's increasing obsession with heavy metal, a few artists began blending industrial shock-terrorism with the breakbeat programming of jungle and techno. In line with past industrial pioneers -- Front 242, Cabaret Voltaire, Skinny Puppy -- who kept up with developments in electronic dance, these bands kept ahead of the rest of the industrial pack, continually experimenting with song structure.
Top Jungle Drum n Bass Artists
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