Various - Jazz Jungle

Review by Ron Perkey

Jazz Jungle: A Wild Ride Through 90s Electronic Vibes Alright, let’s talk about Jazz Jungle, the 1999 gem from Various that somehow managed to mash up Drum n Bass, Jungle, Future Jazz, and even a splash of Ambient into one wild package. If you’re into beats that feel like they’ve got their own heartbeat, this album is worth a listen. It came out in both the UK and US under some seriously eclectic labels like Acid Jazz and Point Entertainment—so yeah, it’s got roots all over the place. And credit where it’s due, Steve Hulme (the mastermind behind this project) clearly had his hands full pulling this beast together. Now, don’t expect perfection here—it’s not gonna be everyone’s cuppa tea. But man, there are moments on this record that just stick with you. Like “Rhythm Factor,” for example. That track slaps hard. The bassline feels like it’s crawling right through your headphones and setting up camp in your brain. It’s got this hypnotic groove that makes you wanna move but also just sit back and zone out at the same time. Kinda confusing, honestly, but in a good way. You know when something feels too smooth to ignore? Yeah, that’s “Rhythm Factor” for ya. Then there’s “Freeform Reality.” This one hits different. It starts off kinda mellow, almost like it’s lulling you into a false sense of chill, and then BAM—it flips into this chaotic jungle beat that feels like running through a rainforest while being chased by invisible monkeys. Sounds weird, I know, but trust me, it works. There’s something about how unpredictable it feels without ever losing its flow. It’s messy in the best possible way, like life itself if life was set to breakbeats and synths. The rest of the tracks have their moments too—“Easy Ride” brings that laid-back vibe, “Tales” leans more into the ambient side, and “Bombay” throws in enough spice to keep things interesting. Honestly, though, it’s not a perfect album. Some tracks drag a bit or feel like filler, but hey, it’s 1999. People were still figuring out what worked in electronic music. Cut ‘em some slack. What really stands out about Jazz Jungle is how unapologetically experimental it is. It doesn’t care if every song lands perfectly; instead, it feels like an adventure through someone’s wildest musical ideas. Listening to it now, it’s kinda funny how dated some parts sound, but isn’t that part of the charm? Music doesn’t always need to age gracefully to leave an impression. So yeah, give Jazz Jungle a spin if you’re curious about what happens when jazz meets drum machines and chaos reigns supreme. Just don’t blame me if “Rhythm Factor” gets stuck in your head for days. Oh, and fun fact: apparently Steve Hulme did everything from creating the album to managing it. Dude must’ve been exhausted after all that multitasking. Props to him for making something this wild happen.

Artist: Various
Album: Jazz Jungle

Electronic

1999

Rating: 4.8

Review
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Catalog Numbers
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Listen online
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Interesting fact
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Related albums

Download

Filename: various-jazz-jungle.zip

MP3 size: 92.4 mb
FLAC size: 793.8 mb

Download

Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
The Danger	6:23
Jelly Head
New York
3 Minute Traffic Jam	3:25
Expletive Deletive
Tales
Freeform Reality	5:30
Rythm Factor
Dovima's Fantasy
Jeamland	5:01
Jazz Ass
Rhythm Factor
Bombay
Easy Ride

Video

Parallax - Expletive Deletive

Shifty - Jazz Ass

Parallax - Domiva's Fantasy

MC Det - Freeform Reality (feat. Vivee Wray)

New Jazz Hustlers - Tales

New Jazz Hustlers - Bombay

In Deep - Rhythm Factor

Ed Solo - The Danger

Images

Album herunterladen Various - Jazz Jungle

Catalog Numbers

SBSC8477
AJS-1
0984
MDT8477

Labels

Street Beat Sound Collective
Acid Jazz
Point Entertainment
Master Dance Tones, Street Beat Sound Collective

Listen online

lyssna på nätet
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
online luisteren
escuchar en línea
online anhören
lytte på nettet
écouter en ligne
ouvir online

Formats

CD
Vinyl
12"
Promo
Compilation

Companies

Role	Company
Distributed By	Pinnacle
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Point Entertainment Ltd.
Copyright (c)	Point Entertainment Ltd.
Produced For	Master Dance Tones

Credits

Role	Credit
Created By	Steve Hulme
Management	Steve Hulme

Notes

Collection of tunes from the Urban Flavour Records label

Barcodes

Barcode: 7 14151 84772 7
Barcode: 5 029365 098427
Barcode (Text): 6 58926 84772 0
Matrix / Runout: DADR 1K133<7084>MDT8477
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L483
Mould SID Code: IFPI8149

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? The album *Jazz Jungle* by Various artists is like a musical time capsule from 1999, blending genres like Drum n Bass, Jungle, and Future Jazz. It’s wild how one album can mix ambient vibes with punchy beats. Tracks like "Jazz Ass" and "Easy Ride" feel like a late-night journey through both UK and US underground scenes. Steve Hulme, who managed and created the project, seemed to pull together a sonic puzzle that still feels ahead of its time. And hey, with labels like Acid Jazz and Street Beat Sound Collective behind it, this album was destined to be a hidden gem.

Comments

wrgdigital

2025-03-15

underrated ;) I don't understand why it wouldn't be liked either!

emeystudio

2025-03-14

Ha ha! Nice one UgoZg! I made this tune back in about 1997... I think... At the time, the D'n'B was getting VERY dark! Some of it, in a good way, like Photek & Source Direct... some was just a bit weird. Anyway, NOBODY liked this track at the time! Even the guys at the label that put it out! Good to know SOMEBODY dug it! Haven't heard it in years. Sounds a tiny bit naff but mostly very cool! Many thanks for uploading!

rubabali126

2025-03-13

chill

justbgun

2025-03-12

yea, glad you liked it. i was always wandering how come this tune isn't a huge underground hit. it has, as you say, a big dose of real break beat ingenuity in it.

steppingstones

2025-03-12

The Real Oldskool drum n bass

gurjeetbains45

2025-03-12

@UgoZg
Yeah, there's another really great compilation similar to the Jazz Jungle(s) called Emotional Ambience. Has this one as well. Great collection, highly recommended.