Neurofunk is defined by obsessive production cleanliness and implosive neurosis rather than techstep's explosive bombast

Simon Reynolds coined ‘neurofunk’ in 1997 to name a strain of drum ‘n’ bass that diverged from No U Turn-style techstep. Where techstep used deliberately dirty production and bombastic riffs for explosive psychosis, neurofunk favours obsessive-compulsive cleanliness, eerie electronic blips, ultra-complicated basslines, and an implosive neurosis. Reynolds likens the contrast to a maniac (techstep) versus a stalker (neurofunk) — furtive and morbidly fixated. The style aligned itself with Techno and Acid House aesthetics rather than Jungle’s ragga/rave roots.

Examples

Jonny L’s ‘Piper’ (metronomic two-step, affectless Dalek-like vocal) and Optical’s ‘To Shape the Future’ — clean, glacial, queasy textures rather than explosive breakdowns, versus techstep classics like Trace & Nico’s ‘Squadron’ that ‘sound like a maniac running amok’.

Assessment

Given two d&b tracks, identify which is neurofunk vs techstep by listening for production cleanliness, bass character, and emotional register (neurotic/implosive vs explosive/bombastic).