Classic drum and bass tracks. Recommended popular songs.
If you’re not very interested in dance music, you might have no idea what “drum and bass” is.
Drum and bass—one form of electronic music said to have evolved from the genre known as jungle—emerged around the mid-1990s, and by the late ’90s there were hit songs that employed drum and bass techniques.
In this article, we introduce classic drum and bass tracks that continue to evolve in their own way even in the 2020s.
From timeless classics to recent standouts, enjoy a selection of masterpieces that also showcase fusions with genres like rock and jazz.
Drum and bass masterpieces. Recommended popular tracks (1–10)
Move FasterDimension
Drum and bass is a genre that’s constantly evolving, so it’s only natural that promising young artists keep emerging.
One of them is Dimension, a London-based drum and bass DJ and producer.
Born in 1991, he has been active in drum-and-bass-centered styles since his debut in 2012, and it’s still fresh in our memories that he released his long-awaited first album on his own label in 2021.
Let me introduce “Move Faster,” the track that first brought Dimension major attention in the drum and bass scene.
Released in 2014 through MTA Records, the label run by UK electronic duo Chase & Status, it’s a classic that won high praise from drum and bass fans worldwide for its polished production.
Its cool, driving momentum is obviously perfect for the dancefloor, but it also fits great for a car ride.
In fact, “Move Faster” was featured on the soundtrack of the popular racing game series Need for Speed, so those who’ve played the game might recognize it immediately!
Atlantis (I Need You)LTJ Bukem
LTJ Bukem from the UK is an originator of the drum and bass genre and has consistently stayed at the forefront of the scene.
He began his career as a DJ in the late 1980s, and his background—studying classical piano in his teens, becoming immersed in jazz fusion, and forming a jazz-funk band—makes him a distinctive figure.
Essential to any discussion of the history of UK drum and bass, and indeed dance music at large, Bukem released the track “Atlantis (I Need You)” in 1993 under the alias Apollo 2, a work of major importance in drum and bass history.
Issued on his own label, Good Looking Records, the track is fascinating for its proto-jungle/drum and bass sound, incorporating Detroit techno-style synths while showcasing Bukem’s signature, jazz-influenced sophistication: refined breakbeats, melodicism, and a floating, ethereal sound world that still feels stylish today.
It’s also said to have helped cement the subgenre known as artcore within drum and bass, making it a classic of genuine historical significance.
SlamPendulum
Pendulum is an Australian band whose members originally came from the metal scene and later dove into electronic music, creating band-style drum and bass.
Formed in 2000 as a DJ duo, they quickly relocated to the UK and were gaining attention in the drum and bass field from early on, contributing tracks to compilations released by DnB labels.
In 2006 they fully transitioned into a band setup and signed to a major label, achieving commercial success with a style that fused rock and drum and bass.
The track being introduced here, “Slam,” comes from before that band-style shift; it’s included on their 2005 debut album Hold Your Colour.
It became a hit on the UK dance charts and has remained one of their signature songs, performed live in their band configuration even after their major-label debut.
The original version also has a rock-oriented structure, making it likely easy to listen to even for those who are resistant to dance music.
X-RaySub Focus
In 2005, a groundbreaking drum and bass track was released on the prestigious label RAM Records, led by the genre’s charismatic DJ, Andy C.
Titled “X-Ray,” this single by Sub Focus—a DJ and producer primarily known for drum and bass—soared to No.
1 on the UK dance chart and became the track that put his name on the map.
It’s a pivotal song in tracing the career of Sub Focus, who would later rise to stardom within the drum and bass scene, and it’s no exaggeration to call it one of the defining tracks of 2000s drum and bass.
While the distinctive snare sound of “X-Ray” is especially memorable, you’ll immediately understand upon listening that this is a floor-focused, anthemic tune.
The moment it drops, the dance floor is guaranteed to descend into glorious chaos.
SignalFresh!
DJ Fresh, a member of the legendary UK drum and bass group Bad Company UK and the creator of many classic tracks.
As one of the key figures in the history of British dance music—spanning drum and bass and dubstep—following his work is essentially a deep dive into the drum and bass genre itself.
In this piece, we’ll introduce Signal, a classic likely released for the first time under his solo name on the prestigious RAM Records.
Released as a 12-inch single in 2003, Signal is a fan favorite among drum and bass listeners, characterized by an overall serious and dark atmosphere.
From a lengthy intro featuring spacey synths and unsettling noise, the track delivers a masterful transition: after a brief moment of silence, a barrage of breakbeats surges in, heightening the tension.
It’s stunning—on the dancefloor, of course, but also the kind of track that, if you listen to it alone at night in your room, might just transport you to another world.
Parallel Universe4hero
Formed in 1989, the British electronic music duo 4hero are indispensable originators not only of jungle and drum and bass, but of the UK club music scene as a whole.
Alongside LTJ Bukem, the two Black British members—Mark Clair and Dennis McFarlane—have been active since the very earliest days of jungle and drum and bass.
Their second album, Parallel Universe, released in 1995, is widely regarded as a classic of the drum and bass genre.
The track discussed here is the title cut: the interplay of intricate breakbeats and cool, floating electronic tones is strikingly intelligent and beautiful.
In 1998, they signed to Giles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud label—Peterson being virtually the father of acid jazz—and released the highly acclaimed masterpiece Two Pages.
If you want to hear 4hero’s sound taken even further, be sure to check that out as well!
The NineBad Company
Formed in the UK in 1998, Bad Company UK is a drum and bass group that produced many classic tracks in the underground scene.
They went on hiatus in 2005 to focus on solo work, but pulled off a miraculous reunion in 2016 and have continued to tour and stay active into the 2020s.
One of the labels run by the members, Breakbeat Kaos, launched the drum and bass band Pendulum; both their releases and their activities themselves have played a key role in the scene.
Bad Company UK’s explosive debut and signature track, The Nine, released in 1998, has been hailed by music media as the greatest drum and bass track of all time and is a universally acclaimed DnB anthem among critics and fans alike.
Listening again, its construction is strikingly simple, yet elements like the tight, driving beat that suddenly seems to stumble and collapse mid-pattern feel carefully engineered—an incredibly cool touch.
It’s an essential track for understanding drum and bass, so make sure you give it a proper listen!