Ed Rush & Optical - Wormhole

"Wormhole" was released in the late 1990s on Virus Recordings, a label co-founded by Ed Rush and Optical. The album was also co-released through the prominent Lambert Promotions, which later became known as Renegade Hardware. It served as a foundational blueprint for the techstep and neurofunk movements within drum and bass.

The album pushed the genre into darker, more aggressive territory with its heavily distorted basslines and sci-fi atmospheres. It is widely credited with helping to define the techstep sound that dominated the late 1990s underground scene. Producers still point to its complex sound design as a major historical influence on modern neurofunk.

"Wormhole" was produced by the UK duo Ed Rush (real name Ben Settle) and Optical (real name Matt Tomlinson). Optical is also notably the brother of Matrix, another well-known figure in drum and bass. The duo was instrumental in shifting the sound of jungle music toward a darker, more technical production style.

Tracks like "Wormhole" and "Slam" are considered classics of the techstep era. The album also includes "Lighter," which showcases their signature blend of heavy Reese basses and sharp, rhythmic breaks. These tracks remain staples in the sets of many veteran drum and bass DJs.