Drum 'n' bass is great action movie music — fitting for just about any adventurous encounter, for that matter. When you really look — hear it, it's almost a metagenre, in that through sampling, interpolation, and electronic emulation, it draws a lot out of other styles and assembles them into one full-on breakbeat stew. Perhaps that's why, at some character development level (viewing myself as a "composite alloy"), I can relate.

EVE Online has had a trailer titled "No Other Destiny" out for awhile. You can watch it on YouTube, or download the much higher-quality version. The way the beats kick in is in stark contrast to the void of space, yet amidst a pulse-pounding flurry of cosmic combat. (Those ship propulsion effects and editing jumpcuts are awesome!)

"No Other Destiny"'s soundtrack is "Arrakis" by Black Sun Empire, which sounds like it's simultaneously tipping hands to Dune and Star Wars. (Kewl interview where they're toting a MacBook Pro!) It takes the familiar foundation of the Amen Break and throttles it into hyperspace, the same way an Iron Chef works a Ginsu knife. Judging by the comments I've observed while googling for this, the drum 'n' bass tune has gotten quite a white-hot reception.

I can't wait until a trailer in the same spirit emerges for Second Life. Some great machinimakers out there are going to drop the subs and let it roll. It's even better with a broad international audience, since DnB continues to be better-known in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia.

Some of my fave drum 'n' bass music videos:

  • Halcali - "Twinkle Star"
    Unquestionably one of my perennial favorites. I have a feeling this is totally normal where Halcali come from, but outside of their world, it's prone to generating reactions of, "WHAT ARE YOU ON!??"
     
  • Lia - "Light in the Air"
    Beautiful scenes of nature contrasted and a soft-looking Japanese girlin a white dress vs. a forceful, flexible rhythm arrangement. Greatlandscape flythroughs.
     
  • Roni Size - "Brown Paper Bag"
    When my bro and I did back-and-forth evasive motions in Spectre VR, we called it "doing a Roni Size". Watch and find out why.
     
  • Olive - "You're Not Alone"
    Stunning remix of, yeah, that soap opera theme. Masterful DnB can sound fast and slow at the same time, and this is a paragon example.
     
  • DJ Fresh - "Nervous"
    THIS VIDEO CONTAINS PSYCHOLOGICAL IMAGERY.
     
  • Roni Size - "Dirty Beats"
    Brill melodic string sample, the rapping is brusque and sublime.
     
  • Frou Frou "Must Be Dreaming"
    Today's the first time I've actually seen the vid, but I've adored this tune for a long time. Like the Olive track, a well-crafted slice of poppy DnB, complete with choruses.
     
  • Aphex Twin - "Girl/Boy Song"
    Not an official vid, but it's a lot of fun. From the same guy who brought you Salad Fingers. There's never been a track like this since.
     
  • Boymerang - "Soul Beat Runna"
    Something about the atmosphere of this vid makes me think of Philip K. Dick. Also important to note this was made before The Matrix.
     
  • Photek - "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu"
    When the heck is his new album coming out? This is such a stark, calming-yet-abrasive video. The drums take some serious trashcan playing" virtuosity.
     
  • Goldie - "Inner City Life"
    Classic.
     
  • Squarepusher - "Come On My Selector"
    Chris Cunningham's prowess makes this microedited experience undoubtedly worth it. (By now there are 4 Japanese-themed videos on this list.)
     
  • Pendulum - "Slam"
    I'm actually not that big a fan of this video but the ch00n is soooo catchy. The hip-hop opening is powerful, and the horn swells only wetten anticipation for when the mutant hoover bass sucks out all the air. And that narration could be well-adapted for SL. :)
     
  • Sub Focus - "Airplane"
    I'd love to see someone make a "flight across SL" video with this. The looped speech sample is so hypnotic, and the video is so uncharacteristic and atypical of "usual" DnB imagery.

Okay, all those are going on a new YouTube playlist.

One other reason why I'm so much for this: DnB's high tempos are a perfect accompaniment for higher, smoother framerates. Which is something I'd certainly like to see in Second Life.