Bass Is Maternal

Bass Is Maternal is the debut studio album by Bristolian production duo Smith & Mighty, originally released by More Rockers in 1995. The album was originally recorded in 1989 for ffrr/London Records, who had signed the duo after they had built up underground success in their native city for their innovative Bristol underground scene sound, but the labels deemed the record unsuitable for release. The record explores links between dub music and British rave culture, incorporating styles of rock, reggae and electronic music with an emphasis on dub-style bass. The album title and artwork highlight the perceived association between the exposure of bass and maternity.

Upon its release, Bass Is Maternal was largely commercially unsuccessful, although it peaked at number 35 on the UK R&B Albums Chart. It received mixed and positive commentary from critics, who described the record as a long-awaited release. It has since been regarded as a groundbreaking album that anticipated 1990s progressions in drum and bass, jungle, trip hop and Bristolian music. In 2000, the album was re-released on Studio !K7. In the January 2001 issue of Spin, it was listed among the "Top 10 Reissues of the Year". In 2015, Fact placed the album at number 42 on the "50 Best Trip-Hop Albums of All Time" list, and cited it as "an important chapter in British musical history."