Electronic Music Discussion - Drum and Bass

As off the top of my head. I do not claim to be well read or versed in Drum and Bass, just talking about it.

Leave comments in reply, post your favourite tracks etc. Eat an ice-cream.

I think everyone has heard the term Drum and Bass before but surprisingly few often know what the genre is and I've often heard The Prodigy being claimed as Drum and Bass. I walk up to these people, and I vomit at their feet.

Drum and Bass is probably my favourite genre these days, it's got a huge history, an amazing culture, endless energy and it's just an incredibly enjoyable form of music.

Somehow it's managed to stay "underground" in that it has resisted being swarmed by posers and hipsters that often ruin so many genres, cue Metal, Dubstep, Electro etc. I think a lot of it comes down to the genuine "I don't give a fuck" attitude that a lot of the listeners have. Not the pretentious or destructive "I don't give a fuck" but more so the letting people do as they please. Hipsters tend to thrive on being noticed and are gluttons for punishment so any place they aren't wanted they'll be at. I guess that's a part of what makes them hipsters in the first place.

Now I know a genre is the music at the end of the day and getting caught up on the trends is in poor taste but Drum and Bass, in particular, is often looked at as a culture more so than just a genre. For that reason it's difficult, and probably wrong, to speak about the genre without referencing the culture surrounding it.

The music itself is generally up around the more extreme bpm regions for dance-able music at 170bpm - 180bpm. Sharing this range with hardcore, breakcore etc. It's most notable by it's syncopated break beat drum patterns and it's emphasis on all things bass. Drum and Bass can't be fully appreciated without good subs, simple as.

Here is an incredibly popular example that you all know, and is ironic to my previous statement as it's a remix of the Prodigy.

An example of "Old school" Drum and Bass [well, Jungle].

Another Pendulum track to give you an idea of the sort of common modern Drum and Bass sound [the melody at 2.20 is one of my favourite melodic passage of all time, way too good. I vomit with a smile.]:

A quite modern Drum and Bass track that incorporates many of the "filthy" elements of popular Dubstep:

One of my favourite Sub-genres "Liquid Drum and Bass", extremely chilled yet energetic. Amazing for chilling out but not getting lazy, or having in the background while doing work etc. Awesome.

Oh and finally, if you want to boost your work out sessions in the "desperately clutching at your heart by the end" zone then Drum and Bass is the way to go. ;)