This selection is what I personally consider the pinnacle of DnB music. If your track is not listed here it doesn't necessarily mean it is not good. The problem is, there's too much awesome DnB music out there and I had to make choices. In the back of my mind, I also wanted lesser known artists and labels to be recognized. Also check out my other DnB (Reference/Master Class)playlists. Chances are high that your track is listed in one of those ;) Side note:  I wouldn't be exaggerating if I would say I have scanned through aprox. 10.000 DnB tracks just to come up with these 8 Reference Class playlists ! I hope you will enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed making them :) Keep on smiling and keep on moving always !

DnB Reference Class Pt 6 aka The Killing Blow

Limited Marbled 12" in Artwork Sleeve and Digital out now ▷ https://samurai.lnk.to/RATS

“After more than 25 years of active absorption of Drum and Bass music, the pandemic finally scrambled my daily life and cellular imprint enough to clear a path for a solo musical contribution.

Many people that were around in the mid/late ’90s are still living off the charge that the unbridled innovation those few years gave us all. RATS is built on this energy.

RATS is a distillation, refinement, and reconstruction of definitive elements and combinations that have become signals for authenticity in my experiences with the genre and continue to be the backbone of the foundations of this music.

RATS tunes were designed as integral parts of my DJ sets to replace the tunes from the late 90s / early 2000s that I have worn out, but retain their effectiveness with updated production strengths. So far these have worked for me, now it’s time for you to test these and see if I succeeded.

RATS is a love letter to the genre that has come to define my life for a quarter-century.”

🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀

https://www.instagram.com/preshasamurai/

RATS

Presha - Mainliner [SMDE23]

Buy or stream Seventeen / Greif In Puddles here: https://Mitekiss.lnk.to/SeventeenGriefInPuddlesso

Mitekiss returns with his two-track single ‘Seventeen (feat. Pixie Cola)’ and ‘Grief In Puddles’, teeing up for his next big project that’s due to land early 2022 on Hospital Records. His acclaimed ‘Night Bus Stories’ EP came out earlier this year and was an introspective glimpse into his journeys home on the N68 and an ode to London life. Honing in on his reputation as a deep, soulful drum & bass extraordinaire, Mitekiss continues to release music of the highest calibre alongside unearthing and curating some of the finest talent for his own Goldfat Records imprint which he runs alongside Mr Porter.

Mitekiss’ signature soulful production ties in beautifully with up and coming vocalist, Pixie Cola. Her soothing vocals bring listeners to an upbeat liquid number on ‘Seventeen’. Combining his love for jazz with his skill for being a top notch A&R scout and tastemaker, Mitekiss and Pixie Cola cook up a relatable tale infused with dreamy synths, a bouncing upright bass and crystal clear percussion.

‘Grief In Puddles’ sees Mitekiss explore the darker and minimal avenues of drum & bass. Sombre chords, skippy drumwork and a selection of gently mangled bass wobbles all demonstrate Mitekiss’ versatile style. His ability to produce a deep and dangerous banger should not be tested.

Aside running his Goldfat label which has seen recent recent releases from the likes of Winslow, IYRE, Telomic, pyxis, Athena and Digital Native to name a few, Mitekiss affirms his status amongst the drum & bass community with his music frequenting support from the likes of LSB, London Elektricity, Hybrid Minds, DJ Ron, Nu:Tone and Degs. With previous releases on some of the scene’s most respected labels including Shogun Audio, MTA Recordings and his very own Goldfat, you can always count on new music from Mitekiss to never disappoint.


Follow Mitekiss:

www.facebook.com/mitekissyou/
www.twitter.com/Mitekissyou?
www.instagram.com/mitekissyou
@mitekissyou

Follow Hospital Records:

hospitalrecords.com
www.facebook.com/Hospitalrecords
twitter.com/hospitalrecords
instagram.com/hospitalrecords
play.spotify.com/user/hospitalrecords
www.google.com/+HospitalRecords
@hospitalrecords
www.mixcloud.com/hospitalrecords/

Seventeen / Greif In Puddles

Grief in Puddles

Out Now

Mitekiss - Grief In Puddles

Taken from the Torn debut LP for Samurai Music - Borderline [SMDELP08]

3xLP/Digital - https://samurai.lnk.to/smdelp08

Pre-order from https://samuraimusic.bandcamp.com/ and https://voidvinyl.eu/ and get 'The Fear' instantly with purchase.

Moscow based Ivan Karasev aka Torn inked his Samurai affiliation in 2017 with his first-ever solo vinyl release on Shiro, a sub-label for highlighting new artists. 

In the 5 years that have passed since this release, the Torn name has progressed into a widescreen sonic project leaving an indelible mark not only on DnB but also reaching into the outer edges of the underground Techno scene. 

As well as his monster debut EP (Internal - SMDE10) on the main Samurai label in 2018, Torn became one of the few artists to garner a release on Homemade Weapons' imprint Weaponry in 2019, a year which also saw him release an EP of Grey Area style Techno on Horo and a collab EP in the same style with Sam KDC and Korse as Vermisst, also on Horo. 

Since these releases, Torn has teamed up with fellow Russian artist Roho for an EP of percussive floor shakers in 2021 on Samurai Music (Fatum - SMDE19) and several self-released projects direct to his growing base of devoted Torn heads. In the background, the last few years Ivan has been diligently refining and experimenting with constructions for his debut LP for the Samurai Music label.

Borderline fulfils the promise of Ivans musical ascendancy in our sub-scene netherworld between DnB and Techno. Gut-punch kicks entwine with dense atmospheric layers, gnawing mid-riffs, and impeccably honed percussive propulsion. The cake is iced meticulously with guest collabs from Samurai Music top tier affiliates Homemade Weapons, Last Life, label head Presha and a tempo switch up to close the LP with the help of dungeon master Sam KDC and close cohort Korse.

Borderline plants a confident, empowered, flag on the electronic music landscape with Torn's name on it.


01. Dislocations 
02. Borderline
03. Bushido
04. Boxcutter (with Homemade Weapons)
05. Hyperborea
06. Fireball (with Presha)
07. Unbridled (with Last Life)
08. The Beckoning
09. Dallol 
10. The Fear
11. Automaton Clock
12. Onibi (with Sam KDC & Korse)

https://soundcloud.com/torn170
https://www.instagram.com/van_torn/

Borderline

Torn - The Beckoning [SMDELP08]

Taken from the Torn debut LP for Samurai Music - Borderline [SMDELP08]

3xLP/Digital - https://samurai.lnk.to/smdelp08

Moscow based Ivan Karasev aka Torn inked his Samurai affiliation in 2017 with his first-ever solo vinyl release on Shiro, a sub-label for highlighting new artists. 

In the 5 years that have passed since this release, the Torn name has progressed into a widescreen sonic project leaving an indelible mark not only on DnB but also reaching into the outer edges of the underground Techno scene. 

As well as his monster debut EP (Internal - SMDE10) on the main Samurai label in 2018, Torn became one of the few artists to garner a release on Homemade Weapons' imprint Weaponry in 2019, a year which also saw him release an EP of Grey Area style Techno on Horo and a collab EP in the same style with Sam KDC and Korse as Vermisst, also on Horo. 

Since these releases, Torn has teamed up with fellow Russian artist Roho for an EP of percussive floor shakers in 2021 on Samurai Music (Fatum - SMDE19) and several self-released projects direct to his growing base of devoted Torn heads. In the background, the last few years Ivan has been diligently refining and experimenting with constructions for his debut LP for the Samurai Music label.

Borderline fulfils the promise of Ivans musical ascendancy in our sub-scene netherworld between DnB and Techno. Gut-punch kicks entwine with dense atmospheric layers, gnawing mid-riffs, and impeccably honed percussive propulsion. The cake is iced meticulously with guest collabs from Samurai Music top tier affiliates Homemade Weapons, Last Life, label head Presha and a tempo switch up to close the LP with the help of dungeon master Sam KDC and close cohort Korse.

Borderline plants a confident, empowered, flag on the electronic music landscape with Torn's name on it.


01. Dislocations 
02. Borderline
03. Bushido
04. Boxcutter (with Homemade Weapons)
05. Hyperborea
06. Fireball (with Presha)
07. Unbridled (with Last Life)
08. The Beckoning
09. Dallol 
10. The Fear
11. Automaton Clock
12. Onibi (with Sam KDC & Korse)

https://soundcloud.com/torn170
https://www.instagram.com/van_torn/
https://www.facebook.com/samkdc
https://www.instagram.com/korse_music/

Torn - Onibi (with Sam KDC & Korse) [SMDELP08]

Nemy is dropping a two tracker on 4 Corners Music. This one is 'Cloning', our favourite from the release.

♕ Free Download: Lovell - Deceit
https://shorturl.at/vMN39

♫ Buy now:
https://fourcornersmusic1.bandcamp.com/

► Nemy:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NemyOfficialPage
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/nemy-3

► 4 Corners Music:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/4cmusic
Soundcloud -  https://soundcloud.com/melinki

► Forbidden Frequencies:
Link Tree - https://linktr.ee/forbiddenfrequenciesdnb
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/forbiddenfrequenciesdnb
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/forbiddenfrequenciesdnb
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/forbiddenfrequenciesdnb
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/forbiddenfrequenciesdnb
Email - forbiddenfrequenciesdnb@gmail.com

♫ Submit your music: 
https://forms.gle/tJH8C1g7CrEv12JC7

✔ Donate Via PayPal
https://shorturl.at/gCGY0

NEMY - Cloning

Taken from the Mako LP 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗖 [SMDELP09]

Released on 2x12"+1x10" (Marbled or Black)

Available now from Bandcamp - https://makosm.bandcamp.com/album/death-of-a-romantic

and Void Vinyl (Germany) - https://voidvinyl.eu/products/mako-death-of-a-romantic

🖤⚔️🔊☠️

As we welcome Stephen Redmore aka Mako back to the label, it’s important to note that Death of a Romantic is not only the debut LP for Mako on Samurai Music, but it also puts Mako in a solo category, a historic first - the only artist to ever release an artist LP on both Metalheadz and Samurai Music.

Death of a Romantic aptly captures Mako’s ability to span different corners of Drum and Bass’ musical palette - a talent cultivated by a musical approach informed by full absorption in the history of this music as a building block, plus a dedication to perfecting the science of breaking down the essential elements needed to make any construction approach at this tempo achieve maximum efficacy.

Followers of Mako’s music have no doubt taken note of this versatile approach to writing music and his gifted ability with breaks and sub-bass. For Death Of A Romantic, a considered approach to strip the music back more in line with the Samurai Music sound was taken but the album retains the Mako flavour - deft, subtle hooks, beds of sub and ethereal ambience, pinned down by total rhythmic potency.

Highlights are many, but the first tunes that were written for the LP embody perfectly the musical environment Mako built specifically for this LP - ‘The Both Of Us’ with its sinister intro and tear out conclusion, and ‘Raisuma’ - a call and response rhythm that is almost dub-like in feel with peaks that pack a hefty punch.

Makos's signature lead hooks appear, albeit tempered, to compliment the build reduction on tracks like ‘Falter’ and LP closer ‘We Can Love All’ - both are clear cases of this interpolation of Makos's own breadth of style, pointedly refined to slot into the LPs sound and utilising space to increase their power.

The Death of a Romantic song titles all carry a consistent message, one that Mako puts to use in his own life and interactions with other humans, and one we could all benefit from reflecting on at this time - life brings us joy and pain and much more in between, but if we live with compassion and humility, we can truly love all.

Tracklist:

01. Empathy Dub
02. Even Treasured Memories Fade
03. The Both of Us
04. False Promise
05. Falter
06. Cold Hands
07. Raisuma
08. Grieve
09. The Choice is Yours
10. We Can Love All

https://www.instagram.com/utopia_music_mako/

Death of a Romantic

Death Of A Romantic

Mako - Cold Hands [SMDELP09]

Subrix - Had Enough

@rami-abadir serves  club music alchemy on his new album for @svbkvlt, splicing jungle, dancehall, Jersey Club and footwork with Arabic instrumentation and Maqsoum rhythms

More info: https://djmag.com/listen/premiere-abadir-irreversible

Mutate

Premiere: ABADIR ‘Irreversible’

Taken form the amazing compilation ' The Movement ' out tomorrow on Celsius Recs.
https://celsiusrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-movement-ep
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7crMfuf5neUYzmwwklDPCO

¬ Rafau
https://soundcloud.com/rafau-etamski
https://www.facebook.com/RafauEtamski

¬ Celsius
https://soundcloud.com/celsiusrecordings
https://celsiusrecordings.bandcamp.com/


// Liquiddnbftw
Spotify Playlist : http://spoti.fi/2wU2Hvt
Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/liquiddnbftws
Discord - https://discord.gg/kjfCtYfM

Rafau Etamski - Wild and Fluffy

Part of the stunning 2 track EP releases Friday on Lizplay Records
Beatport Pre Order - https://www.beatport.com/release/even-heaven-makes-mistakes/4157620

¬ Twintone
https://soundcloud.com/twintone
https://www.instagram.com/twintone.dnb/

¬Lizplay
https://www.facebook.com/lizplayrecords/
https://soundcloud.com/lizplayrecords

// Liquiddnbftw
Spotify Playlist : http://spoti.fi/2wU2Hvt
Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/liquiddnbftws
Discord - https://discord.gg/kjfCtYfM

Twintone - Even Heaven Makes Mistakes

The first single for my forthcoming album on Galacy Records

Can You Hear Me

Bubbles

Buy / Stream

Low:r - Bubbles

malia - Fallout (Subrix Remix)

Fly_Paper_KLICKAUD

15 years is a long time for anything, but for the lifetime of a record label it’s a particularly lengthy stint. Kasra Mowlavi launched his drum & bass label Critical Music in 2002, and through the years it went from being a passion project of a hobby into a full-time existence of A&R and DJ gig.  

Critical is by now regarded as one of the most boundary-pushing platforms in drum & bass, but given Mowlavi’s background in music that shouldn’t entirely come as a surprise: before he launched Critical, he’d already had experience of working in music at in international artist management companies and at the respected independent imprint Rough Trade Records. 

With Critical’s landmark birthday happening this year, Mowlavi is as busy as he’s ever been: on top of his regular gigs, there’s also an international tour, and a forthcoming boxset featuring some of the label’s key artists from across their history. 

As the label head prepares to launch the landmark ’15 years of Underground Sonics’ album in Room Two tomorrow night, he sent us a premiere of his track 'Phases' forthcoming on the compilation. 

Kasra plays RM2 on 12/05: fabricldn.co/ijcwul

Tickets for 12/05

Premiere: Kasra - Phases [Critical Music]

We're proud to present you our first official release! 
This single by Aetherial & Cosmic Sequence titled 'Forsaken/Within' brings you their signature sound of spacey atmospheres and deep basslines. 
It's free to download so why not grab yourself a copy? (Click 'Buy' to download the single for free)

Aetherial:
https://soundcloud.com/aetherialistic
https://www.facebook.com/AetherialDnB/

Cosmic Sequence:
https://soundcloud.com/cosmicsequence
https://www.facebook.com/CosmicSequence

Forsaken / Within

Within

Free Download

Aetherial & Cosmic Sequence - Within (Free Download)

No Love EP

No Love

Celsius Recordings & Influenza Media. Soulful drum & bass from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Powered by @triplevisionnl.

Check out our big brother @fokuzrecordings!

BEFORE EDM THERE WAS EBM 😉

I am breathing electronic music since late 70s and that's over 45 years now. From Kraftwerk, Jean Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield, Depeche Mode, Erasure, Yazoo, Alphaville, Men without Hats, Nitzer Ebb, Die Krupps, Front 242, Anne Clark, Camouflage, Gary Numan, OMD, Apopytygma Berzerk and even the Commodore 64 demo & break dance scene to more contemporary Electronic music artists, I witnessed the evolution of Electronic music, which basically means I am an old fart and consider myself an authority in this music genre 😵 Currently I listen DnB almost exclusively. But I do not like to restrict myself at all, enjoying flavors like Electronica, Trance, Psytrance, Tech House, Dubstep, Deep House, Future Pop, Trap, Techno, UK Bass and of course EBM/Industrial as well.

What you will find in my likes and playlists is the top of the crop in Electronic Music, I will  absolutely not list any bullshit. A track I have not listed might be just that: Bullshit, just mediocre or an artistic gem which I haven't discovered yet.

Subrix - Had Enough

Celsius Recordings

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