LTJ Bukem – Atlantis (Good Looking, 1993):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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An obvious choice. Lush samples, highly atmospheric elongated intro, smooth drop, cool break down, and resonate vocals ‘I need you, I want you.’ Sublime. 

 

Calibre, High Contrast – Mr Majestic (Signature, 2004):

 

 

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Classic. I love two things in particular about this track: the horns in the intro and the way they worked the sample from reggae legend Horace Andy into the drop. 

 

M.I.S.T (Marcus Intalex and St Files) – Outerspace (Soul:r, 2003):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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An absolutely stunning intro which drops and then switches after thirty-two bars. The switch synth is then incorporated into the build for the second drop. Sensational. 

 

DBridge, Vegas – ‘True Romance’ (Metalheadz Platinum, 2004):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DBridge and Vegas show how to incorporate both smooth and aggressive elements within the same track. 

 

Goldie – ‘Kemistry’ (Metalheadz, 1995):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Just one of many incredible tracks by Goldie, the man who, as Simon Reynolds noted, did so much to develop jungle, to prove it could be more ‘conventionally musical.’ This track’s dedicated his former girlfriend, who introduced him to jungle. Doc Scott’s edit is also worth a listen. 

 

Omni Trio – ‘Renegade Snares’ (Foul Play Remix) (Moving Shadow, 1993):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This track has break-beats so good that David Bowie sampled them on his track ‘Little Wonder.’ The track itself is an example of ‘piano-led jungle at it’s best. A favourite of many, it influenced ‘If We Ever,’ by High Contrast, which has just missed out on making it onto this list.

 

Dillinja – ‘The Angels Fell’ (Metalheadz, 1995):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As with Goldie, I could have picked at least three other Dillinja tunes for this list but will restrict myself to one. Sampled from Vangelis’ ‘Blade Runner Views,’ this tracks puts a Jungalist twist on a tune from a seminal album of electronic music. 

 

Origin Unknown – ‘Valley of the Shadows’ (Ram, 1993):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Origin Unknown, for those who are unfamiliar, is an alias of Ram founders Andy C & Ant Miles. I can’t think of any other jungle tracks that are referred to by more than one name: the title, ‘Long Dark Tunnel,’ and ’31 Seconds.’ Recently, Chase & Status brought it up to date with a 2017 remix. 

 

Alex Reece – ‘Pulp Fiction’ (Metalheadz, 1995):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Having only discovered this track relatively recently, it’s hard to understand the contemporary impact this track had. Many have commented on how it was both an original and highly unusual track upon release, not least of all Fabio & Grooverider. This track brought many outsiders into jungle, such as recent producers like Turno.

 

Krust – ‘Soul In Motion’ (Full Cycle, 1997):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Another strange and incredibly forward thinking tune from the experimental producer Krust. 

 

Link to YouTube playlist featuring my choices:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g3RUnx9svM&list=PLlaDmtaeyrfmUBUlJYJAeBjstXNi6Gaba

 

Ben Graham

1st May 2018