For rock fans too! Popular big beat groups and artists

A Little Less ConversationJunkie XL

Junkie XL, Elvis Presley – A Little Less Conversation (Official JXL Remix)

Junkie XL is a project by Dutch musician Tom Holkenborg.

In 2002, his remix of Elvis Presley’s A Little Less Conversation became a worldwide hit, and he went on to remix tracks by artists like Coldplay, Britney Spears, and Ayumi Hamasaki.

He has also composed numerous film soundtracks, including Terminator: Dark Fate, making his work accessible even to those without much knowledge of Western music.

Stop and PanicCirrus

Cirrus – Stop & Panic

Known alongside The Crystal Method as one of the American groups representing big beat, Cirrus was a duo active from 1995 to 2003.

During the peak of big beat in 1998, their track was featured on Fatboy Slim’s live album “On The Floor At The Boutique,” though to be honest, they may still be considered somewhat minor.

As you can tell from the track “Stop and Panic” discussed here, their sound is quintessentially “big beat”: freewheeling electronic bleeps and breakbeats, and a cool, controlled energy that never gets overly hyped.

The classic “Cirrus” included on “On The Floor At The Boutique” showcases funky guitar comping, and it seems they incorporated live instruments in their performances.

They released a total of three albums, so if you’re interested, it’s worth checking out their entire catalog.

Buzzin’Asian Dub Foundation

Asian Dub Foundation – Buzzin’ (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Asian Dub Foundation, formed by members of Indian and Bangladeshi descent in the UK, is known for its distinctive sound that incorporates Asian music rooted in their heritage.

Since gaining attention with their second album, Rafis Revenge, released in 1997, they have continued their activities while undergoing lineup changes.

Their appeal lies in sharp, socially satirical lyrics and aggressive beats that mix elements of breakbeats and drum and bass.

AishaDeath In Vegas

Death In Vegas – Aisha

Formed in London in 1994, Death in Vegas are highly acclaimed for their unique sound that absorbs a wide range of genres—from electronica and dub to hip-hop, shoegaze, and neo-psychedelia.

Originally a duo of Richard Fearless, who took over as a resident DJ from The Chemical Brothers at the legendary club night The Heavenly Sunday Social, and producer Steve Hellier, the project now continues as Richard’s solo unit.

Rather than fitting into a big beat context that blends elements of rock and techno, their sound stands out more like alternative rock presented from the club music side.

The fact that rock heavyweights such as Iggy Pop, Paul Weller, Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream, and Liam Gallagher of Oasis have appeared as guest vocalists shows just how beloved Death in Vegas’s sound is among rock-side musicians.

Start with The Contino Sessions (1999) and Scorpio Rising (2002) to experience their alternative musical vision.

I See You BabyGroove Armada

Groove Armada – I See You Baby (Fatboy Slim Remix Uncensored) ft. Gramma Funk

Groove Armada are a quintessential Big Beat act and a stalwart of the UK dance music scene who remain active well into the 2020s.

Often mentioned alongside heavyweights like Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and Basement Jaxx, the duo formed in 1994 and have been known from the start for performing live with a full band rather than DJ sets.

Their sound—epitomized by the 1999 smash hit “I See You Baby”—deftly fuses rock’s kinetic energy with dance music’s beats, showcasing Big Beat at its best.

That said, they were quick to pursue a hybrid musical approach that blended a wide range of genres, presenting dance music in the broadest sense and maintaining a top position in the scene for many years.

If you want to hear them in their Big Beat mode, start with their second album, Vertigo (1999).

Then check out Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) from 2001—featuring the massive hit “Superstylin’”—where they evolved into deeper territory by incorporating elements of reggae and dub.

History Repeating (featuring Shirley Bassey)Propellerheads

Propellerheads feat: Miss Shirley Bassey – History Repeating

Listening to “Take California,” which was used in the ad campaign for the first-generation iPod, some of you may have wondered what this jazz-tinged yet club-textured track was.

Propellerheads, a UK outfit, released one full-length album along with several EPs and singles between their formation in 1995 and their breakup in 2003.

Though their output wasn’t large, they gained popularity in the late 1990s amid the big beat boom.

Their 1998 album Decksandrumsandrockandroll reached No.

6 on the charts in their home country and became a hit, particularly across Europe.

The “Take California” mentioned at the start was originally released as their single in 1996, and after they disbanded in 2004, it was reissued as a remix version.

Tracks like “History Repeating,” featuring Shirley Bassey—famous for James Bond theme songs—and “Spybreak!,” featured in the blockbuster film The Matrix, still sound cool and stylishly sophisticated today.

Destroy 2000 Years Of CultureAtari Teenage Riot

Atari Teenage Riot “Destroy 2000 Years Of Culture” (REMASTERED)

It may be misleading to discuss this band in the context of big beat, but I’d like to introduce Atari Teenage Riot from Germany, who have a devoted following here in Japan as a group that fuses eardrum-shredding digital beats, the aggression of hardcore, and vocals that agitate with radical messages.

Formed in Berlin in 1992 around their charismatic frontman Alec Empire, they released three albums before halting activity in 2001 due to the sudden death of a member.

Since their 2010 restart, they’ve put out new material and returned to Japan for shows.

As mentioned at the outset, their musical style is extremely intense, characterized by a wall of sound that has led them to be hailed as pioneers of digital hardcore.

Because their initial run overlapped with the big beat boom, they enjoyed strong popularity in Japan even among music fans who loved so-called “digirock.” Of course, learning about their ideology deepens the appreciation, but I also recommend them simply to anyone who wants to hear digital beats even more extreme than The Prodigy’s!