1. Goldie – Timeless

When I was about 8 or 9 years old, my brother, who is 12 years older than me, had two turntables and played hardcore, techno and jungle records. One album that immediately caught my attention was Timeless, especially "Inner City Life".

The dark ambient textures, heavy jungle breaks and haunting female vocals felt unlike anything else. Even as a kid, I knew there was something special about it.

More than 30 years later, it still sounds fresh. It truly lives up to its name: Timeless.

2. Sully ft. Salo – Not Just a Dub Mix

I'm a sucker for deep 808 basslines, live drums and female vocals, so this track instantly connected with me.

What I love most is how deceptively simple it sounds. Sully strips everything back and focuses on subtle changes in the breaks and vocals, creating a track that constantly evolves without ever feeling crowded.

A beautiful lesson in how less can be more.

3. Fracture & Neptune – Erase Everything

The most beautiful thing in my life, is that I am so deeply involved with Jungle and drum & bass music, its rare and special how deep you can feel for something. That's why it's frustrating to see commercial dancefloor and jump-up often overshadow the deeper roots of the genre.

"Erase Everything" reminds me why I fell in love with jungle in the first place. Jazz influences, sci-fi atmospheres, chopped breakbeats and a fierce bassline come together perfectly.

For me, this track proves that innovative and meaningful jungle is still alive and well.

4. Scar – High Fives & Devil Eyes

I've always loved the deeper, more atmospheric side of drum & bass, and High Fives & Devil Eyes captures that perfectly.

SCAR combines dark textures, rolling breaks and emotional melodies in a way that feels both modern and rooted in the classic Metalheadz sound. It's an album that rewards careful listening, revealing new details every time I come back to it.

For me, this is drum & bass beyond the dancefloor: thoughtful, cinematic and full of character.

5. Quartz – Notice The Reverse

Quartz has a way of making drum & bass feel both raw and carefully engineered. Notice The Reverse is a perfect example of that: dark, stripped-back and full of tension.

The track doesn't rely on unnecessary elements — every break, bass movement and atmospheric detail has a purpose. It feels like a journey through sound, where small changes slowly build the energy.

For me, this is what makes deeper D&B so special: minimal on the surface, but incredibly detailed underneath.

6. Ed Rush & Optical – Alien Girl

Alien Girl is one of those tracks that instantly takes me back to the darker, futuristic side of drum & bass.

Ed Rush & Optical created a sound that felt completely different at the time: cold, mechanical and almost otherworldly, with precise drums and that unmistakable techstep energy.

What I love is the balance between aggression and atmosphere. It's heavy without being chaotic, and every sound feels carefully placed. A track that helped define an era of D&B.

7. DJ Fresh – Tombraider

Tombraider shows the cinematic side of drum & bass. DJ Fresh combines huge drums, dark atmosphere and a sense of adventure that makes the track feel like a soundtrack rather than just a club tune.

8. Goldie – Kemistry

Kemistry is a beautiful example of Goldie's emotional side. Instead of focusing only on the power of jungle breaks, the track creates a deep atmosphere with warmth, space and feeling.

It shows his love for Kemistry (RIP), it almost feels like a love letter, and that drum & bass can be vulnerable and musical, not just dark and aggressive. A reminder of how much soul there is hidden inside this genre.

9. Dillinja – The Angels Fell

The Angels Fell represents everything I love about classic Dillinja: huge bass, powerful drums and a sound that feels massive without losing its groove.

10. 4AM Kru & Layla Sibelle – Places

Places brings a different energy: nostalgic, emotional and deeply connected to the roots of jungle.

The combination of atmospheric vocals, rolling breaks and warm textures creates something that feels both old and new. It's the kind of track that reminds me jungle is not just a style of music — it's a feeling and a memory.

Rataplan is a Dutch Drum & Bass DJ and producer known for his blending minimal, jungle, and soulful influences combined with deep, dark, and rolling sounds (and even some breakbeat with hardcore if the mood is right) into immersive musical journeys. As the founder of State of Unrest and B-Side, he has quickly established himself as a rising force within the Dutch underground scene.

Rejecting the fast-paced, instant-gratification approach often associated with modern DJ culture, Rataplan focuses on patience, atmosphere, and storytelling. His sets are built on tension and progression, slow-burning and unpredictable, drawing listeners into a shadowy jungle with gritty rollers, haunting vocals, and evolving energy.

Rataplan has already made an impact on the international stage, performing at renowned events including Defqon.1, Jueven and Bunker Bass. Along the way, he has shared lineups with respected names such as Halogenix, Visages, S.P.Y, Benny L, Inja, Whiney, Klinical, Ill Truth, and Rizzle.

For those seeking depth, atmosphere, and soul in Drum & Bass, Rataplan delivers a sound that is both intelligent and intense.