Like most liquid drum n bass where it excels is in the sumptuous, gorgeous sounds, the filtered/reversed(?) guitar(?) tones. At the cost of sort of neutering the bass/drums, a thoroughly domesticated form of jungle, ultra linear and predictable.
I should get pilled up and listen to some of this stuff again, see what happens. Pricking up hairs or fuck it who cares?
I have a contension that liquid is sort of a update on that not quite dark, not quite happy hardcore sound of 93-94. See House Crew, Manix, Nookie etc. Something vibesy and London, but not quite LTJ Bukem style goodlooking just yet. Unfortunately for me at least it doesn't seem to possess the woozy post-ardkore soul of say, Manix - Alright Wid Me (Tek 9 Remix.)
But this aspect i always thought was slightly written out of the equasion -
@Pearsall did a mix about it, but there was a sort of inbetween zone where even the tearout breaks and hoovers were interfacing with afroamerican black music - that's why its a london something, no way these tunes could have worked in Scotland or wherever, in fact maybe even less so than the 93 dark vibes, which would get you bottled off anyhow.
The problem I have with most liquid is it seems to not be housey/soulful jazz funk influenced dnb so much as big beat for connoisseurs. Just this incessant chugging with some soulful samples thrown over the top but not capturing its own vibe. You remember that Space Invader Jay Majik remix? Really a low point for him.
That pearsall mix is here, although of course it has a lot of the later 94-95 stuff, because those tunes in '93 were the absolute minority anyway. But the hard soul roller is something a lot of junglists need to rediscover, i feel.
http://sonicrampage.org/blog/2018/08/pearsall-presents-rolled-in-sunshine-summer-ready-jungle-mix/