No. 017 · 90s UK Jungle and Drum & Bass

Where to start with 90s UK Jungle and Drum & Bass

90s UK Jungle and Drum & Bass is a music scene from London and Bristol, UK, 1990–1998. Its principal artists include Goldie, Roni Size, LTJ Bukem and 4hero. This issue covers 7 essential albums and 12 dated events.

Start here

  1. 1

    Original Nuttah 25

    Shy FX & UK Apache · 2019
    Original release: cult.ure · Digital Media · Worldwide 2019

    Rooted in dancehall but accelerated to jungle tempos, it marked the genre's 1994 commercial peak on pirate radio and dancefloors alike.

  2. 2

    Timeless

    Goldie · 1995
    Original release: FFRR · 828 646-2 · CD · UK 1995

    Its title track fused strings, breakbeats, and soul vocals into something unprecedented, forcing critics to reckon with jungle's artistic reach.

  3. 3

    New Forms

    Roni Size & Reprazent · 1997
    Original release: Talkin’ Loud · 534 934-2 · CD · UK 1997

    This Mercury Prize-winning, platinum album shows how jungle achieved rare mainstream acceptance while still appealing to dancefloor heads and festivals.

Go deeper

  1. 4

    Logical Progression

    LTJ Bukem · 1996
    Original release: FFRR · 828 739-1 · 12″ Vinyl · UK 1996

    Mix compilation released in 1996 that defined ambient jungle's atmospheric, jazz-influenced sound and showcased Good Looking Records' melodic approach.

  2. 5

    Parallel Universe

    4hero · 1994

    Reinforced Records release from 1994 that bridged jungle's experimental edge with accessible melodies, establishing 4hero (Dego McFarlane and Marc Clair) as scene innovators.

  3. 6

    Saturnz Return

    Goldie · 1998
    Original release: FFRR · 828990.2 · CD · UK 1998

    Ambitious double album released on FFRR in January 1998, featuring collaborations with David Bowie, Noel Gallagher, and KRS-One, proving jungle artists could work at album-length scale and attract major cultural figures.

For the obsessed

  1. 7

    Music Box

    Roni Size · 1993

    Early compilation released in 1993 showcasing Size's production range and establishing Full Cycle's underground credibility before the mainstream breakthrough of New Forms.

The stories behind every record are in 90s UK Jungle and Drum & Bass, a members' issue.

Notes: original release details come from MusicBrainz. Each line is from the issue.