Top ten dnb basslines (from StylusMag)

downtime · Post by **downtime** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:02 pm

Thought youse guys might be interested in this...

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/ ... slines.htm

In its early days, DnB leaned towards the "D," as the genre emphasized mashing up drum breaks into crazy, rat-a-tat patterns. Usually, a few strategically placed 808 booms would suffice for bottom end. However, the late '90s saw a shift to simpler, more regular beats. Basslines accordingly compensated in complexity and became the main impetus for tunes. Around London, the conventional wisdom was that a kicking b-line and a good snare were all you needed for a tune. In some cases, merely the former could send a 12" flying off the shelves. If you hear the sound system at Fabric in London, you'll not just understand the importance of basslines to DnBâ€”you'll feel it.

Below are 10 moments in DnB low end that have made people (a) dance wildly, (b) lose their minds, and/or (c) make babies. DnB connoisseurs, if there are any left, will notice some glaring omissionsâ€”no DJ Trace, no Bad Company, no Juice or True Playaz records, and so on. That's the breaks, so to speak, of a top 10 list.

10. Origin Unknown - "Truly One"
This was perhaps the epitome of "tummy bass" (sometimes called "wobble bass"), a DnB trend in the mid-'90s. As the term suggests, on a proper system the b-line would resonate through one's innards, if not one's genitals. This 12" was pressed loud as hell and would wreak serious havoc if the DJ didn't watch his levels. This was probably the only DnB tune ever to sample Richard Nixon ("For one priceless moment in the whole history of man, all the people on this earth are truly one").
[LISTEN]

09. Matrix - "Mute '98"
Matrix is one Jamie Quinn, brother of Matt, aka Optical. Matrix has made some of the sexiest, most sinuous b-lines known to man (and hopefully woman). "Mute '98" was seriously stoned business, with simple beats and a b-line that engulfed dancefloors. The synth chords were curiously reminiscent of The Doors' "Light My Fire."
[LISTEN]

08. Photek - "Knitevision"
In recent years, Photek has made increasingly distorted and hairy sounds. Back in the day, though, he was the Samurai of DnB, with scalpel-sharp beats and precise b-lines. "Knitevision" was a sculpted marvel of tick-tock snares, with a percussive b-line that was devastating at high volume.
[LISTEN]

07. DJ Krust - "Warhead"
This b-line was maligned by some for its utter simplicity, but therein lay its effectiveness. Three notes, that was itâ€”and after 32 bars, a fourth. Big and bouncy, this tune caused universal knees-up dancing and lager spillage. Like most DnB, it sounded innocent in headphones, but writ large, it lived up to its name.
[LISTEN]

06. Capone - "Friday"
Capone is one of the many aliases of Dillinja, aka Karl Francis, who could occupy this entire list by himself. No DnB producer strikes more fear in sound engineers. Since day one, he has been a student of bass, going so far as to design his own sound system to go with his tunes. Dillinja's b-lines have run the gamut from deadly deep subs to full-on growlers. "Friday" was one of his more laidback productions; warm tummy bass, rolling beats, and a "Thank God it's Friday" sample that filled dancefloors without fail.
[LISTEN]

05. DJ Rap - "Hardstep"
One of the few prominent women in DnB, DJ Rap is responsible for one of its all-time classics, "Spiritual Aura." "Hardstep" would come next on the resume; it had irresistible percussion and one of the liveliest basslines ever made, in any genre of music. I would kill to know how she got that sound. My guess? Tummy bass sine waves through an overdriven mixing board, perhaps with slight LFO.
[LISTEN]

04. PFM - "One and Only"
PFM stands for "Progressive Future Music" and that means simple, dubby 808 subs sketch out a sexy, loping rhythm in one of atmospheric DnB's all-time greatest tunes.
[LISTEN]

03. Roni Size & Reprazent - "Brown Paper Bag"
Except for #2 here, I have never seen a tune wind waists so effectively. In the late-'90s, DnB had a brief trend of tunes with standup basslines, and "Brown Paper Bag" ruled them all. Appropriately, the 12" came in a sleeve that looked like a brown paper bag.
[LISTEN]

02. Alex Reece - "Pulp Fiction"
This is hands-down the sexiest DnB bassline ever. It's warm, eerie, and comes with crisp beats with the slightest hint of swing. If any DnB tune were made for the catwalk, this would be it. Incidentally, the bassline is sampled from MC Solaar's "DÃ©votion," off the Prose Combat album. Has no one else spotted this yet???
[LISTEN]

01. Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce - Cutslo (Lokuste Mix)
No one called this tune by its ridiculous title. It will always be known as the "Locust Remix," as it was a rerub of Ed Rush & Fierce's "Locust," which had a nasty b-line in its own right. The No U-Turn crew (Ed Rush, Nico, Fierce, Trace, and, later, Optical) helped pioneer DnB's techstep sound in the late-'90s. Basically, they sat around, smoked tons of weed, sampled stabs from old Belgian techno records, and ran basslines through guitar distortion pedals to get the darkest, harshest sounds possible. The "Locust Remix" was the culmination of that. Distorted basslines had been around for some time when this appeared on dubplate in '97, but people were unprepared for its sheer ferocity. When I heard Grooverider play this, it got rewound an astonishing three times. People were screaming and pounding the walls of the club, absolutely losing their shit. Now that's a bassline.
[LISTEN]

Post by **system** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:35 pm

interesting choices. i would have put 'spiritual aura' or 'jeopardy' on there for dj rap, ditto 'ni ten ichi ryu' for photek.

dust · Post by **dust** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:25 pm

I say no to DJ Rap!!

Warhead, Cutslo & Pulp Fiction i say yes.

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:37 pm

mute 98 was such stoned business tho. tune.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:38 pm

Grimey???

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:39 pm

grimeys all bout those deep kicks.

Direkt · Post by **Direkt** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:40 pm

Yeah they're deep as....

Boom, b-koosh, boom, boom, b-koosh...

That b-line tears though....

Post by **fooishbar** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:18 pm

warhead is huge. i didn't see the 'dnb' bit, and just thought jesus, if this list isn't just 'pick any six loefah tunes', it's a travesty. (in particular, it's yours, mud.)

Hardy · Post by **Hardy** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:24 pm

Mute, Cutslo and Pulp Fiction FTW

scotty woo hoo · Post by **scotty woo hoo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:40 pm

what about a shy fx tune>?

Zero Hour · Post by **Zero Hour** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:00 pm

Knitevision is all about the gated verbs. Bass just rings out. I'd put Seven Samuria rmx or UFO in front of Two Swords.....sorry S!

Klute's Leo 9 is a bassline way ahead of anything at that date....He could take the apachy's away, put a straighter break ova the top and release it today and it wouldn't last 5mins on the shelf.

Big Bud's Indian Summer ova Alex Reece & PFM.

jungle_tactics · Post by **jungle_tactics** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:05 pm

Shimon & Andy C - Quest

Also perhaps Tech Itch - The Rukus

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:09 pm

Body Rock.

Uhhghhg Uh Ne Ne UGHGH
Uhhghhg Uh Ne Ne UGHGH
Uhhghhg Uh Ne Ne UGHGH
UHHHH EE UUUHHHH EEE

andy_hoffman · Post by **andy_hoffman** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:54 pm

I'd say Dillinja - Grimey has gotta be up there

Motive · Post by **Motive** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:55 pm

it's a good list - i agree with most of it. the only one that i think is missing is Jonny L's Piper

Post by **system** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:03 pm

Fents wrote:mute 98 was such stoned business tho. tune.

for sure, toss up between optical's "grey odyssey" and that for me though.

Zero Hour wrote:Knitevision is all about the gated verbs. Bass just rings out. I'd put Seven Samuria rmx or UFO in front of Two Swords.....

fair enough.

Zero Hour wrote:Big Bud's Indian Summer ova Alex Reece & PFM.

"indian summer" came out a long time after those so, no.

deviant · Post by **deviant** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:35 pm

Alien Girl??

fave

Zero Hour · Post by **Zero Hour** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:41 pm

system wrote:
Fents wrote:mute 98 was such stoned business tho. tune.
for sure, toss up between optical's "grey odyssey" and that for me though.
Zero Hour wrote:Knitevision is all about the gated verbs. Bass just rings out. I'd put Seven Samuria rmx or UFO in front of Two Swords.....
fair enough.
Zero Hour wrote:Big Bud's Indian Summer ova Alex Reece & PFM.
"indian summer" came out a long time after those so, no.

hehe...thought that after i posted. PFM & Alex reece...sick tunes but, very warm.

mixtress · Post by **mixtress** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:45 pm

Motive wrote:Jonny L's Piper

Word x infinity

Fents · Post by **Fents** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:11 pm

sending this one out to the DJ Motive :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qo1aoR96oI

such a basic clip yet so effective. remids me of goldies mother clip.

ctoafn_DMZ · Post by **ctoafn_DMZ** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:48 pm

Cutslo remix is sick. That tune is good then that drop b line kicks and it gets nasty. Similar thing to Sonar too.
Alien girl should be there (Along with Apache or Temprament).
Truly One should ghave been replaced by 'Ska' the original

mixtress · Post by **mixtress** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:58 pm

Temperment

I knew there was another one I wanted to add. Thanks ctoafn

ctoafn_DMZ · Post by **ctoafn_DMZ** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:19 pm

mixtress wrote:Temperment I knew there was another one I wanted to add. Thanks ctoafn

Cant go past that tune - PS - 400th post, I am so cool

Althought it dont compete with your 9000+ Mixy

paranoid edge · Post by **paranoid edge** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:53 pm

mixtress wrote:Temperment I knew there was another one I wanted to add. Thanks ctoafn

Warehouse - Teebee

Post by **system** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:58 pm

ctoafn_DMZ wrote:Truly One should ghave been replaced by 'Ska' the original

timing and originality, yes? "casino royale" is worth a guernsey on the dj zinc tip.

mixtress · Post by **mixtress** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:36 pm

ctoafn_DMZ wrote:
mixtress wrote:Temperment I knew there was another one I wanted to add. Thanks ctoafn
Cant go past that tune - PS - 400th post, I am so cool

Althought it dont compete with your 9000+ Mixy

lol, seems the more posts you have the less cool you become

:endhijack:

ctoafn_DMZ · Post by **ctoafn_DMZ** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:59 pm

paranoid edge wrote:
mixtress wrote:Temperment I knew there was another one I wanted to add. Thanks ctoafn
Warehouse - Teebee

TUNE!!!!!!!

Johnny Hooves · Post by **Johnny Hooves** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:29 am

Digital and Spirit - Phantom Force
Capone - Tudor Rose
BC - The Hornet
TeeBee & Calyx - The Quest

I think the latter proves that great bass lines are still being written.

quick · Post by **quick** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:36 am

agree with many, these need to be there as well

optical - the shining
jonny l - piper
c4c - epox
dom & roland - can't punish me

there's more... but they will do for now.

ctoafn_DMZ · Post by **ctoafn_DMZ** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:43 am

All this talk of mad old tunes gets me thinking of making a mix full of those cool old choons. Bassline loving filth!!!

paranoid edge · Post by **paranoid edge** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:24 am

ctoafn_DMZ wrote:All this talk of mad old tunes gets me thinking of making a mix full of those cool old choons. Bassline loving filth!!!

David Bass · Post by **David Bass** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:02 pm

deviant wrote:Alien Girl??

fave

thats what i was thinking.....Alien Girl is sick

or

Unknown Error - Hellraiser.....

mixtress · Post by **mixtress** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:26 pm

quick wrote:dom & roland - can't punish me

Nice choyce

Reminded me of another one: Grooverider-Where's Jack the Ripper? Optical Remix. Hotness.

RK · Post by RK » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:08 pm

Johnny Hooves wrote:Capone - Tudor Rose

oh so script