Liquid Drum and Bass
A smooth, musical drum and bass style with soulful singing and warm chords.
History
Liquid drum and bass appeared at the end of the 1990s s1. It brought back the soulful, musical feeling of early jungle while keeping the fast drum and bass beat s1. The name liquid was first used for a series of records, then became the name of the whole style s1. Calibre, based in Northern Ireland, became one of its most respected producers s2. High Contrast's 'Return of Forever' (2002) is a well-known liquid track with a strong melody s2. Nu:Tone's 'Three Bags Full' (2004) and London Elektricity's 'Just One Second' (2008) also show the style's warm, song-based sound s2. The Hospital Records label released many of these records and held popular club nights s2. Liquid drum and bass is often played on radio and at festivals as well as in clubs s1. The style is also played on specialist radio shows and at outdoor festivals s1. Many liquid tracks are released as singles and then collected on albums s2.
Sound
- Soulful singing or vocal samples
- Warm, jazzy chords
- Smooth, rolling breakbeats
- Strong melodies
- A hopeful, relaxing mood
Key figures
- Calibre — Northern Irish producer known for liquid tracks
- High Contrast — Welsh producer behind 'Return of Forever'
- Nu:Tone — British producer behind 'Three Bags Full'
- London Elektricity — Producer and Hospital Records founder
Labels
- Hospital Records — London , 1996
- Signature Recordings — Belfast , 1994
- Soul:r — London , 2001
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Drum and Bass , Jungle , Atmospheric Drum and Bass
Sources
- Liquid drum and bass — Wikipedia
- Hospital Records: 30 years of community drum and bass — Drum and Bass UK