2023 for bass music has been nothing short of spectacular. While we know bass music has thrived amongst the underground since its conception, we currently find ourselves amidst a mainstream renaissance, witnessing the drum and bass gracefully ascend from the depths of the underground to the heights of the mainstream. It’s a journey that’s been both invigorating and unprecedented and one that has cast a luminous spotlight on a scene. This is more than a mere triumph for drum and bass; it’s a proclamation of its enduring relevance and a testament to the genre’s ability to evolve without sacrificing its core essence.

With more drum and bass tracks hitting the UK top 40 in one year than ever before, and UKG and dubstep unquestionably finding new, younger audiences on tastemaker dancefloors across the globe, it’s been a mighty hard task to pick of favourite track of the year. But here the UKF editorial team list their favourite releases of 2023.

PETE CANNON & MIXTRESS- BLINDED BY THE LIGHTS 23

Anthony Mulholland

The original ‘Blinded By The Lights’ came out in 2004 with Mike Skinner’s The Streets showcasing a moody and atmospheric creation putting the spotlight on the internal struggles of a night out – charismatically narrated by Mike himself. Behind the release of this dancefloor hysteria, almost 20 years on from the original, are both RCA and Locked On Records. Pete Cannon and Mixtress have conjured an adaptation to this masterpiece, cutting a jungle-inspired showpiece that undeniably displays the epitome of British raving culture. This 160 rework provides us with a nostalgia culminated through Skinner’s chopped vocals and the track’s old-school hardcore influence. The original is, without doubt, a timeless classic, but the fact Pete Cannon and Mixtress were able to flawlessly construct this song so that it can stand out in its own right is testament to the intricacy of both as producers. Pete Cannon has been a mainstay in Jungle music for many years now, boasting a wide range of highly commended productions. Mixtress has very much broken through over the last few years, she is unquestionably one of the most exciting selectors in the jungle, footwork, and hardcore game – causing excitement at every set she plays. The profound thought and storytelling behind the track is evident. This remix takes you on a masterful journey which is concluded with the synthesized “walking off into the night” vocals after a sonically pleasing old school run that is greeted with the lyrics “It’s rammo in the main room” –  taking you back to the mid-90s.  Following this smash hit, I expect we’ll see a lot more of these two working together over the coming years. This combination has certainly thrown 2023 with one of the best electronic productions of the year.    

DRONE- ALL I KNOW FT. SNOWY

Whisky Kicks

Picking my tracks of the year has always been my least favourite of festive activities- there’s just too much gold to choose from. However, this year my job was made a touch easier as my ‘Spotify Wrapped’ alerted me to the fact that Drone and Snowy’s hyped-up called to the dance was by far my most played track of 2023. ‘All I Know’ is a dark and powerful track guaranteed to bring gas and gun-fingers to any dancefloor in copious amounts. This moody track is laden with a heavy and hard lowend which pulls the weight of the track and adorned ghostly pitched synth and strings reminiscent of early grme.  If you’ve yet to get Drone on your radar now’s the time to get listening through his back catalogue including his debut album released on 1985 Music.

HALOGENIX- LOST FRIENDS

 Sam Yates

A truly special track from one of the most prolific producers in the game. Halogenix pours everything into this one, dedicating it to his late, great friend Ebow Graham – otherwise known as Metropolis from Foreign Beggars, who tragically passed in 2020. The track carries deep atmospheres rooted in F Minor, creating a powerful sense of melancholy from the outset. As it rolls on, the notes develop – with each note precisely placed to capture that feeling of longing for a lost friend, without using any words. With steady breaks and a constant sub, it’s not a slow jam, there’s a palpable passion woven throughout which makes this a tune that could go down well at any point in the day or night. With every release Halogenix is on-point, but this is a stroke of brilliance. 

DJ HYBRID- BULLET

Laurie Charlesworth

Without a shadow of a doubt my favourite track of 2023. All of DJ Hybrid’s tracks are the perfect blend of gritty jungle from back in the day and well-produced, new-school flavours. The Bullet has been a staple in my radio shows ever since I was lucky enough to hear it. Its rolling bass and simple – yet heavy – elements mean it’s great to mix with, well, basically everything! Big up DJ Hybrid for being an artist true to his sound and vibe.

SIMULA- BONESAW

Whisky Kicks

Simula is undoubtedly one of the gods of the modern-day scene- his ability to blend the gutter-scrapping filth of jump up the subtle complexity of the minimal side of our spectrum results in some jaw-droppingly outstanding tracks which are acclaimed by fans of every subgenre of the drum and bass scene. ‘Bonesaw’ is a horrorshow of a track with its eerie undertones and a sleek steeping drum pattern, and what makes this track special is the juxtaposition of the wonky wobbles against those bone-crunching, crushing knocks. After smashing both the club and festival seasons throughout the year, this ungodly beast was nominated for the Best Track award in the Drum&Bass Arena Awards and got the full remix treatment from K-Motionz, and Scruz & Kippo.

IMANU x YAANO x VISLA x TUDOR- LIFE LIKE THIS

Sagar Deshmukh

‘Life Like This’ brings together three artists who have had a phenomenal 2023. At this point, we have to accept that sonically, IMANU belongs to a different planet. But the fascinating part of this tune is the appearance of two artists who will play an important role in how drum & bass as a genre pushes to its highest limits. Releasing their forward-thinking material on labels like Overview Music and Critical Music, YAANO and VISLA have consistently delivered high-quality music. Fortunately, I didn’t have to look too far when I was on the hunt for a tune that featured artists whose music I have thoroughly enjoyed in 2023.With a heavy influence of Tudor’s yearning vocals, IMANU, YAANO and VISLA then fuse their individual qualities to perfection and present an offering that has the ideal balance of the gleaming, deep and dark realms of drum & bass. 

ISSEY CROSS- BITTERSWEET GOODBYE

Anthony Mulholland

With The Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony having come out in 1997, a new electronic interpretation was very much welcomed when Issey Cross decided to put her spin on this undying classic. The singer from Kent has been releasing music in the electronic dance scene for over a year and is one of the most exciting vocalists on the circuit. Produced by the Australian DJ Luude, Issey wrote the song and completely injected the remix with feeling and personality. The sing-along, feel-good, aspect to the track is what makes this rendition so popular. Its orchestral build-up leading to an eventual drum design that adds a hard-hitting, yet captivating, nuance to this already theatrical number is what, ultimately, allows the track to be so relevant to electronic music lovers everywhere. The distinctive violin composition is a sound that’s been able to seize the attention of many ravers in the dance. Hearing ‘Bittersweet Goodbye’ at one of the many festivals over the summer did such a service to the whole production. When you have the likes of Lens, K Motionz and Tiësto, who are all fantastic producers in their own right, putting their own remixes out to this joyful and uplifting track, it’s a testament to how provoking the original Issey Cross version is. The year 2023 certainly gained another drum and bass anthem for the ages. 

CALL ME FT. BRANDY HAZE- EIJER & SATL

Sam Yates

Glenn Herweijer of Artificial Intelligence takes his first dip into solo territory as Eijer. He brings a few friends along for the occasion though, creating an R&B influenced, feel-good roller with Satl on the desk and Brandy Haze behind the mic. While he’s without AI counterpart Zula on this one, there’s no compromise on the end result production-wise. It incorporates some of those AI principles to achieve a warm analogue sound, but twists the vibe in a more bouncy, light-hearted direction. I can’t wait to hear more Eijer in 2023 – he tells me there’s plenty to come on 1985 Music.

SOTA x CIRCADIAN- MESMER FT. MILA FALLS

Ilan Rubens

Having spent much of 2023 catching dancefloors off guard, Mesmer has been a favourite for both DJs and ravers. This track was part of a new chapter for DJ and producer Chris Garvey, as he parted ways from D&B duo The Prototypes to create music and define a new sound under the alias Circadian. In a short amount of time Circadian managed to create a lot of noise, not only with this tune but also Body Work, combining dancefloor and jump up for a catchy track (and even catchier VIP) that has seen support from the likes of Andy C, Sub Focus and Friction to name a few. For Mesmer, Circadian linked up with Sota, another artist who has had a huge 2023, from winning best newcomer at the Drum and Bass Awards, to going B2B with Pendulum for a DNB60 on BBC Radio, and announcing his debut UK tour ‘State of the Art’. Released on Elevate Records and featuring on the UKF Drum and Bass YouTube channel, this tune perfectly encapsulates the current drum and bass scene – catchy vocals, delayed drops, switching between D&B and 4/4, and working as a standalone track while also being a perfect platform for a double drop. The drop can surprise crowds and allows DJs to chop between songs, one of the reasons why it is a favourite for artists and listeners alike. Circadian and Sota have shown their technical ability and versatility as producers, being able to effortlessly switch between genres in a track and overlaying hard-hitting bass with the soothing vocals of Mila Falls. This song marks big years for both of these artists, and sets the tone for more of the same in the future, whether they are to collaborate again or continue on solo endeavours. 

SIMPLE SOULS- HEAT

Sagar Deshmukh

Melinki’s Four Corners Music have had a phenomenal twelve months dishing drum & bass music brimming with quality through and through; and this tune from Simple Souls, who has long been a purveyor of the funky end of the DnB, serves as a testament to the vibe in the Four Corners camp at the moment. Groovy, nostalgic, and full of energy, ‘Heat’ will make you want run to the beach despite the freezing cold.