Intelligent drum and bass emerged in the mid-1990s as a sophisticated counterpoint to the genre's harder-edged directions, prioritizing atmospheric depth and musical complexity over raw dancefloor energy. Pioneered by producers like LTJ Bukem and Omni Trio, the style weaves jazz-influenced chords, ambient soundscapes, and intricate breakbeat programming into seamless sonic tapestries that reward close listening as much as movement. Where techstep pursued industrial darkness and standard drum and bass often emphasizes impact, intelligent d&b favors spacious production, melodic richness, and a near-cinematic sense of progression—think cascading pads, brushed percussion, and basslines that breathe rather than pummel.
The "intelligent" label—borrowed from IDM's cerebral aspirations—proved controversial yet stuck, capturing the genre's emphasis on composition over raw energy. Artists like Seba, PFM, and Blame crafted tracks balancing technical precision with emotional resonance, incorporating influences from soul, classical music, and downtempo electronica. This refinement distinguishes it from liquid funk's warmer, vocal-driven approach and jungle's breakneck sample chaos, instead offering a more contemplative, headphone-ready experience that never abandons the essential 170 BPM pulse.
For listeners seeking drum and bass that engages mind and body equally, intelligent d&b remains essential—a genre proving that speed and sophistication need not be mutually exclusive, where every listen reveals new layers hidden within the breaks.
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List updated:
| #100 | ByCJ Shadow | Released:1969 | intelligent drum and bass | ||
| #40 | ByPFM | Released:1975-01-01 | |||
| #71 | BySteve H | Released:1979-10 | |||
| #11 | ByKjell | Released:1979 | intelligent drum and bass | ||
| #32 | BySoul Basic | Released:1984 | breakbeatintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #50 | ByIntense | Released:1989 | |||
| #48 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:1992 | |||
| #61 | ByThe Invisible Man | Released:1993-05-25 | |||
| #78 | ByOmni Trio | Released:1993-11-29 | |||
| #22 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:1993 | |||
| #66 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:1993 | |||
| #41 | ByMarcus Intalex | Released:1994-08-29 | |||
| #33 | ByOmni Trio | Released:1994-09-26 | |||
| #88 | ByK-Scope | Released:1995-01-01 | |||
| #62 | ByOmni Trio | Released:1995-01-30 | |||
| #85 | ByOmni Trio | Released:1995-01-30 | |||
| #58 | BySubtropic | Released:1995-06-02 | drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #8 | ByT Power | Released:1995-08-21 | |||
| #9 | ByT Power | Released:1995-08-21 | |||
| #95 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:1996-02-12 | |||
| #64 | ByOmni Trio | Released:1996-05-21 | |||
| #14 | BySpring Heel Jack | Released:1996-06-14 | electronicintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #82 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:1996-08-20 | |||
| #55 | ByPFM | Released:1996 | |||
| #77 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:1996 | |||
| #72 | ByJMJ & Richie | Released:1997-04-14 | |||
| #19 | ByThe Extremist | Released:1997-10 | intelligent drum and bass | ||
| #47 | ByFaith Massive | Released:1998-02-10 | |||
| #68 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:1998-02-23 | |||
| #36 | ByIntense | Released:1998-05-02 | |||
| #28 | ByГости Из Будущего | Released:1998 | intelligent drum and bassjungle | ||
| #75 | BySeba | Released:1999-04 | |||
| #60 | ByOmni Trio | Released:1999-08-23 | |||
| #42 | ByFaith Massive | Released:1999-08-31 | |||
| #79 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:2000-06-16 | |||
| #17 | ByIntense | Released:2000 | |||
| #51 | ByPFM | Released:2000 | |||
| #96 | BySeba | Released:2000 | |||
| #74 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:2001-01-24 | |||
| #15 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:2001-02-13 | |||
| #43 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:2001-03 | |||
| #27 | ByГости из Будущего | Released:2001 | intelligent drum and bassjungle | ||
| #54 | ByDJ Trace | Released:2001 | |||
| #52 | ByPFM | Released:2002-01-28 | |||
| #5 | ByTayla | Released:2002-03-25 | |||
| #73 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:2002-03-25 | |||
| #4 | BySmith & Mighty | Released:2002-04 | |||
| #35 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:2002-05-28 | |||
| #6 | BySeba | Released:2003-02-24 | |||
| #24 | ByBill Laswell | Released:2003-05 | |||
| #56 | ByOmni Trio | Released:2003-06-16 | |||
| #76 | ByOmni Trio | Released:2003-07-14 | |||
| #38 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:2004-06-07 | |||
| #93 | BySteve H | Released:2004 | |||
| #65 | ByPhoneheads | Released:2005-02-28 | |||
| #29 | ByTalwar | Released:2006 | drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #18 | ByFanu | Released:2007-01-07 | |||
| #12 | ByRufige Kru | Released:2007-03-26 | drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #7 | ByKlute | Released:2007-04-09 | |||
| #25 | BySadQube | Released:2007 | electronicintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #31 | BySadQube | Released:2007 | electronicintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #37 | BySadQube | Released:2007 | electronicintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #87 | BySadQube | Released:2007 | electronicintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #67 | BySteve H | Released:2008-09-01 | |||
| #13 | ByATP | Released:2008-11-17 | drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #70 | BySadQube | Released:2009-03-30 | electronicintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #39 | ByOmni Trio | Released:2009-04-29 | |||
| #92 | BySteve H | Released:2009-05-01 | |||
| #21 | BySwimming Loop | Released:2009-05-31 | intelligent drum and bass | ||
| #30 | BySwimming Loop | Released:2009-08-30 | intelligent drum and bass | ||
| #34 | ByBrother | Released:2009-09-08 | drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #90 | ByLinyus | Released:2009-09-22 | |||
| #16 | ByICR | Released:2009-10-26 | intelligent drum and bass | ||
| #46 | ByNookie | Released:2010-03-29 | |||
| #1 | ByUtah Jazz | Released:2010-07-05 | drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #3 | ByB-Complex | Released:2010-07-30 | |||
| #20 | BySwimming Loop | Released:2010-10-28 | intelligent drum and bass | ||
| #84 | ByKoschy | Released:2011-11-17 | |||
| #49 | BySwimming Loop | Released:2012-03-03 | intelligent drum and bass | ||
| #53 | ByForces of Nature | Released:2012-03-05 | |||
| #86 | ByEdwud | Released:2012-12-03 | |||
| #83 | ByDekoi | Released:2012-12-09 | |||
| #91 | BySpikey B | Released:2012-12-09 | |||
| #94 | ByMidas | Released:2012-12-09 | |||
| #2 | BySeba | Released:2013-03-04 | drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #10 | ByLTJ Bukem | Released:2013-03-04 | |||
| #59 | Bykeeno | Released:2013-12-09 | |||
| #45 | ByCyantific | Released:2017-05-05 | |||
| #57 | ByPFM | Released:2017-05-12 | |||
| #81 | ByNu:Logic | Released:2018-01-26 | |||
| #98 | ByNookie | Released:2022 | |||
| #23 | ByTKDPLL | Released:2023-06-09 | atmospheric drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #26 | ByBCee | Released:2023-06-30 | |||
| #44 | ByTKDPLL | Released: | atmospheric drum and bassintelligent drum and bass | ||
| #63 | Byracked up beats | Released: | |||
| #69 | ByDJ Trace | Released: | |||
| #80 | ByFracture & Neptune | Released: | |||
| #89 | BySteve H | Released: | |||
| #97 | ByWaclosh | Released: | |||
| #99 | Bysynox and psyko konceptor | Released: |