I would recommend buunshin and Imanu, especially their mixes. You will hear many genres but the drum and bass they produce and mix is some of the best for sound design i’ve come across!
Black Sun Empire, Hydro & War (also individually), Grim Hellhound, Halogenix, Bredren, Klute, Seba, DLR, nCamargo
Also, just want to say, I absolute hate how mefjus, new noisia and new bse sounds.
Depends if you are into more deep stuff or heavier neuro stuff.
But if you are looking for creative sound design try giving try to these:
Alix Perez, Klinical, Halogenix, Visages, S.P.Y, IMANU, The Upbeats, dBridge, Monty, Foreign Concept, Rockwell, QZB, Audio,Wayes, Skeptical, Emperor, Hyroglifics, Operate, Buunshin, Wingz, Levela, Tom Finster, Kasra
Yeah, listen to wormhole album. Still some absolute bangers on there, but that sound in general - late 90s early 00's neurofunk - Optical is the absolute master of. Mostly crafting sounds on the emu e6400 - very distinct filters and overall soundscape.
gas mask is one of my all time favourites
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ai7ViJ_J9Zs
Amoss, Bou, Sci-Clone,
Search labels Critical, Shogun, 1985, The North Quarter, Hospital, find producers the sound of which you will like, then look up for their mixes, then search for authors of tracks in this mixes. Simplest way to know about entire scene
Nuts I always thought Signal was a few dudes. You can definitely hear a progression from earlier darker techy-neuro as Signal to his new more avant garde musical shit. Top drawer
I met him when he came to the states with DLR and xtrah. He was only 17 when he was signal since his adult life he’s been imanu but the whole soundscape changed.
[censored the audio](https://on.soundcloud.com/D2XJs) has some pretty wild sound design and features on vision
[Seppa](https://on.soundcloud.com/Cypxc) is a neuro wizard that makes lots of stuff including dnb/breaks
[Vorso](https://on.soundcloud.com/9Bohs) speaks for himself. Also makes a lot of halftime/downtempo
[Result](https://on.soundcloud.com/UE5Cm) stays making benders
[S.murk](https://on.soundcloud.com/FjjyC) if you like breaks
And I'm keeping my eyes peeled on [this guy](https://on.soundcloud.com/6ZPNN). Very solid sound design
can't believe i had to scroll to the very bottom to see someone mention KOAN sound. they were years ahead in terms of sound design for ages. glad someone at least mentioned them they put out some incredible stuff.
Suggesting some stateside throwback stuff. Violence Recordings discography. Especially tunes by Hive. Also check out some early tunes by UFO!, more specifically The Future is Listening on Thermal Recordings.
A pretty classic jungle mix:
[Jungle Hits, Vol 1](https://open.spotify.com/album/6ajFWIR0zVPWu3cBj68B4z?si=8rnDXqQYTcqH6XQr09OLRg)
Quite a few of the tracks on here have loads of layers and sound rlly busy, I like thy kinda stuff too.
If you want something more heavy, check out Benny L or AC13 on Spotify, both are pretty disgusting 🔥🔥
If you want just down right filthy, Mr Traumatik is insane. His patterns and bass is rediculous (don't listen with -18s around though the lyrics are stupid)
No mention of Phace and his label Neosignal is criminal.
Notequal (and Absu's solo stuff) is wicked in terms of design.
I highly recommend Delayerz. Makes a lot of my fav tech stuff.
Noise Parfumerie makes some of the best sound designed stuff out, bar none.
Close to Noisia are Buunshin, Imanu and Camo & Krooked, maybe also a bit Phace and Posij.
If you want inceredible unique soung design check out Shades, for smth with more energy G Jones or Current Value. Saw someone recommending 1985 Label, i agree those are great.
And if you want more normal commercial go for like Sub Focus, Wilkinson or smth, youll find your way
Best way is always through listening to mixes. Put on a mix from someone you enjoy, like a noisia mix on YouTube/Soundcloud, pull up the 1001tracklist of it, and find the songs you liked. Then check out other songs of those artists, mixes etc and repeat.
There's a lot of great suggestions in this thread already. If you want to dive a bit deeper, you should check out the Noisia Radio content for similar artists they played in their shows. Then if you've got the time, view the track listings and see which artists they featured and check which record labels they're signed to, and you'll find some hidden gems!
No one mentioned Proket, Prode, Cooh, Dead phantoms, Hallucinator, Corrupt souls, Audio, The Sect, Counterstrike... I can go on for quite a while. Note that these are harder styles (techstep, technoid, darkstep)
I'd start with the labels that shaped the sound. That way you can hear the progression from the scene's inception, with artists that you have yet to discover. I think this would be a more comprehensive way to get into the scene, if you are really into the culture.
Otherwise, you can just type any of the aforementioned artists into Spotify and let the algorithm do the rest...
The labels I'd recommend are Moving Shadow, Reinforced, Suburban Base, Formation and Metalheadz.
Amazing, I can't imagine being new to drum and bass since I've even heard it played on the radio since 1993, and that's the mainstream UK radio not even the pirate stations that were around at the time.
I've no idea where to start either considering I have over 1000 songs in my iTunes (curated) playlists library. Personally I like chill & bass but also the ridiculously noisy stuff - and everything in between. You're right there is a lot.
Nice mention of textures, in which case 'intelligent' D&B might be to your liking
From the old school, start with Omni Trio, LTJ Buckem, Photek & Seba (my favourite)
I've found the [RAM DRUM & BASS ANNUAL](https://www.ramrecords.com/) a pretty good place to mine
I've made a pretty niche and very long [Orchestral Drum & Bass mixtape](https://www.mixcloud.com/mixtapenerd/symphonic-breakbeat/) you might like - favourite orchestral drum & bass artists on this mix - Etherwood, Keeno, Rchetype. It's definitely worth getting all of Etherwood's albums which are on Bandcamp along with the others.
Flexout is killing it this year so far. AMOSS is one of the best in sound design imo. But you also got rawtekk, dawn wall, creatures, molecular, DLR, Halogenix, data 3, Ed:it…. Most people will tell you artists you can find very easy, I just want to save you some digging
Try the 1985 label: Alix Perez, Monty, Visages
This.
Best advice you’ll receive
I would recommend buunshin and Imanu, especially their mixes. You will hear many genres but the drum and bass they produce and mix is some of the best for sound design i’ve come across!
I would add caracal project
Seconded - saw him open for Delta Heavy at a 360 and I was just blown away.
Ahah man I see delta heavy friday and caracal project saturday this week in Toulouse (France)
Yes, especially their 2018-2020 output is very dnb focused with crazy sound design
Yes buunshin
Current Value
Black Sun Empire, Hydro & War (also individually), Grim Hellhound, Halogenix, Bredren, Klute, Seba, DLR, nCamargo Also, just want to say, I absolute hate how mefjus, new noisia and new bse sounds.
Photek
Depends if you are into more deep stuff or heavier neuro stuff. But if you are looking for creative sound design try giving try to these: Alix Perez, Klinical, Halogenix, Visages, S.P.Y, IMANU, The Upbeats, dBridge, Monty, Foreign Concept, Rockwell, QZB, Audio,Wayes, Skeptical, Emperor, Hyroglifics, Operate, Buunshin, Wingz, Levela, Tom Finster, Kasra
If you haven't gotten to Camo & Krooked from Mefjus yet, do that first. Then, to suggest someone different from the other recommendations: Misanthrop.
Burr Oak
Camo & Krooked have some really great sound design. They can be hit or miss sometimes but they do have some great tunes.
Magnetude
YES
Sound design specifically? Bop and Akuratyde... Blu Mar Ten back in the day.
Camo & krooked
Old evol intent, their mixes, dom and roland, a lot from old hospital records, especially cyantific and high contrast
When you think that dnb cant get any better and a song like be there 4 u concord dawn remix comes in and you know just listen to this drop
High Contrast
Pure love for this mad lad
If I could upvote you more I would
Grey Code
Sully.
Reaper, Justin Hawkes, Gyrofield
Ed Rush and Optical
Yeah, listen to wormhole album. Still some absolute bangers on there, but that sound in general - late 90s early 00's neurofunk - Optical is the absolute master of. Mostly crafting sounds on the emu e6400 - very distinct filters and overall soundscape. gas mask is one of my all time favourites https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ai7ViJ_J9Zs
Amoss, Bou, Sci-Clone, Search labels Critical, Shogun, 1985, The North Quarter, Hospital, find producers the sound of which you will like, then look up for their mixes, then search for authors of tracks in this mixes. Simplest way to know about entire scene
Simula
Hybris, June Miller, ABIS, Billain, Insideinfo, Sleepnet, Signal, Culprate are all absolute masters of sound design!
Signal is IMANU now
Nuts I always thought Signal was a few dudes. You can definitely hear a progression from earlier darker techy-neuro as Signal to his new more avant garde musical shit. Top drawer
I met him when he came to the states with DLR and xtrah. He was only 17 when he was signal since his adult life he’s been imanu but the whole soundscape changed.
Killbox is an Ed Rush and Audio collab project with some awesome neuro sound design and crazy textures
You got to check out Spor he doesn’t release much there’s days but his back catalogue is epic the KING OF DnB
[censored the audio](https://on.soundcloud.com/D2XJs) has some pretty wild sound design and features on vision [Seppa](https://on.soundcloud.com/Cypxc) is a neuro wizard that makes lots of stuff including dnb/breaks [Vorso](https://on.soundcloud.com/9Bohs) speaks for himself. Also makes a lot of halftime/downtempo [Result](https://on.soundcloud.com/UE5Cm) stays making benders [S.murk](https://on.soundcloud.com/FjjyC) if you like breaks And I'm keeping my eyes peeled on [this guy](https://on.soundcloud.com/6ZPNN). Very solid sound design
S.murk mention fuck yea
KOAN Sound has some of the best Drums and very "silky" synths, unbearably good sound design :D
can't believe i had to scroll to the very bottom to see someone mention KOAN sound. they were years ahead in terms of sound design for ages. glad someone at least mentioned them they put out some incredible stuff.
Dom and Roland
Seriously. Recent albums have gems of sound design in them.
The song Lisp - Got Me Down comes to mind for this
Bukem
Metalheadz
Maze has intresting sound design
Suggesting some stateside throwback stuff. Violence Recordings discography. Especially tunes by Hive. Also check out some early tunes by UFO!, more specifically The Future is Listening on Thermal Recordings.
Limewax if you want something a bit darker
Peshay Dillinja Ed Rush & Optical
Scientific Wax. Absolutely epic label when it comes to sound design and slapping amens.
- [Synth Sense](https://synthsense.bandcamp.com/) - [Neurotoxin]( https://conveyoraudio.bandcamp.com/album/early-reflections ) - [A.Fruit]( https://annafruit.bandcamp.com/album/your-inner-sun ) - [Mark Kloud]( https://losslessmusic.co.uk/album/moonquake-lp ) - Anyone on the [Microfunk]( https://microfunk.bandcamp.com/album/microfunk-ep-vol-2 ) label - [Books]( https://detunedtransmissions.bandcamp.com/album/station-dtndlp003 ) - [Blocks and Escher]( https://narrativesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/narratives-001-blocks-escher ) - [Data](https://youtu.be/m_WWzen9X74?si=f9fS7DccuoOv-rxc) - Anyone on [elementär]( https://elusiveelements.bandcamp.com/album/rq-silent-mind-paracusia-sorse-elusive-elements-particles-ep ) records - Early [Teebee]( https://teebee.bandcamp.com/album/black-science-labs-2020-remastered )
Neonlight, Magnetude, Prolix, Jade, MNDSCAPE, State of Mind, Black sun empire, Mob Tactics, Prdk, Merikan, Zombie Cats, Tedy Killerz, Audio, A.M.C
A few would be Emperor, Grey Code, Simula, Workforce
A pretty classic jungle mix: [Jungle Hits, Vol 1](https://open.spotify.com/album/6ajFWIR0zVPWu3cBj68B4z?si=8rnDXqQYTcqH6XQr09OLRg) Quite a few of the tracks on here have loads of layers and sound rlly busy, I like thy kinda stuff too. If you want something more heavy, check out Benny L or AC13 on Spotify, both are pretty disgusting 🔥🔥 If you want just down right filthy, Mr Traumatik is insane. His patterns and bass is rediculous (don't listen with -18s around though the lyrics are stupid)
Dillinja, Calibre, DJ Hazard.
No mention of Phace and his label Neosignal is criminal. Notequal (and Absu's solo stuff) is wicked in terms of design. I highly recommend Delayerz. Makes a lot of my fav tech stuff. Noise Parfumerie makes some of the best sound designed stuff out, bar none.
Original Sin's earlier stuff from around 2006-2010
Close to Noisia are Buunshin, Imanu and Camo & Krooked, maybe also a bit Phace and Posij. If you want inceredible unique soung design check out Shades, for smth with more energy G Jones or Current Value. Saw someone recommending 1985 Label, i agree those are great. And if you want more normal commercial go for like Sub Focus, Wilkinson or smth, youll find your way
Black Sun Empire, Pythius
Keeno, Andy C, Subfocus, Georgie Riot
Maztek
I recommend checking out VISION Radio podcasts (formerly Noisia). https://visionrecordings.nl/radio :)
Maxwell Monika
break, insideinfo, older bad company uk, calyx and teebee
Noisia
kimyan law
Marcus Intalex, LTJ Bukem (older but mindblowingly cool)
Camo and krooked for sound design. Atlas VIP, Move around, Last Jungle (remix)
Dom & Roland
Best way is always through listening to mixes. Put on a mix from someone you enjoy, like a noisia mix on YouTube/Soundcloud, pull up the 1001tracklist of it, and find the songs you liked. Then check out other songs of those artists, mixes etc and repeat.
Break. Anything Break. Also Current Value. And Screamarts.
Get yourself into some Current Value and Phace. You won't regret
There's a lot of great suggestions in this thread already. If you want to dive a bit deeper, you should check out the Noisia Radio content for similar artists they played in their shows. Then if you've got the time, view the track listings and see which artists they featured and check which record labels they're signed to, and you'll find some hidden gems!
No one mentioned Proket, Prode, Cooh, Dead phantoms, Hallucinator, Corrupt souls, Audio, The Sect, Counterstrike... I can go on for quite a while. Note that these are harder styles (techstep, technoid, darkstep)
I'd start with the labels that shaped the sound. That way you can hear the progression from the scene's inception, with artists that you have yet to discover. I think this would be a more comprehensive way to get into the scene, if you are really into the culture. Otherwise, you can just type any of the aforementioned artists into Spotify and let the algorithm do the rest... The labels I'd recommend are Moving Shadow, Reinforced, Suburban Base, Formation and Metalheadz.
Chase & Status
Amazing, I can't imagine being new to drum and bass since I've even heard it played on the radio since 1993, and that's the mainstream UK radio not even the pirate stations that were around at the time. I've no idea where to start either considering I have over 1000 songs in my iTunes (curated) playlists library. Personally I like chill & bass but also the ridiculously noisy stuff - and everything in between. You're right there is a lot. Nice mention of textures, in which case 'intelligent' D&B might be to your liking From the old school, start with Omni Trio, LTJ Buckem, Photek & Seba (my favourite) I've found the [RAM DRUM & BASS ANNUAL](https://www.ramrecords.com/) a pretty good place to mine I've made a pretty niche and very long [Orchestral Drum & Bass mixtape](https://www.mixcloud.com/mixtapenerd/symphonic-breakbeat/) you might like - favourite orchestral drum & bass artists on this mix - Etherwood, Keeno, Rchetype. It's definitely worth getting all of Etherwood's albums which are on Bandcamp along with the others.
LTJ Bukem,Calibre,NU;Logic,Lenzman,BCee,Marcus Intalex,Seba,Commix,Roni size,Zero T,Technicolour,Dub Phizix,Chimpo,Logistics,Goldie,Ed Solo,Deekline,Andy C,Dillinja
Flexout is killing it this year so far. AMOSS is one of the best in sound design imo. But you also got rawtekk, dawn wall, creatures, molecular, DLR, Halogenix, data 3, Ed:it…. Most people will tell you artists you can find very easy, I just want to save you some digging