Category Archives: All Label Mix

All Label Mix, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Melodic, Old Skool

Shadow Wax 6: 1996 Chilled Intelligence Part 1 – Ear & Drum Session 72

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The sixth installment in the retrospective Shadow Wax series looks at the chilled out vibes from 1996. No one could touch Moving Shadow during this era of sublime melodies and blissful beats. Artists like PFM, Flytronix, Wax Doctor, Dave Wallace, EZ Rollers and Unit 1 read like a who’s who of top Intelligent D&B producers.

For me these are some of the finest musical moments in Drum & Bass that still sound just as fresh today as when they were made. ’96 truly was a golden era for this sound, so if you like you beats chilled and smooth I suggest you kick back and enjoy the ride.

Shadow Wax 1996: Chilled Intelligence Part 1 – 1hr+ of Chilled out Moving Shadow

PFM – Cruising Detroit
Teqniq – Razzmatazz
Fytronix – The Rhode Tune
Mastermind – The Essence
Hoax – Meltdown
Essence of Aura – So This Is Love ’96
Neil Trix – Revolution
JMJ & Flytronix – Delusions
Wax Doctor – Cool Breeze
Unit 1 – Atlantic Drama
Dave Wallace – Flight
Dave Wallace – Waves
EZ Rollers – The Morning After
Hoax – Pipe Dreams
EZ Rollers – Vintage Moments
Vext – Visions

All Label Mix, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Jazz & Bass, Melodic, Old Skool

Shadow Wax Vol.5: 1996 Hard Intelligence – Ear & Drum Session 66

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Coming on strong with mu favourite era of Moving Shadow, 1996. The amount of tunes Moving Shadow released in 1996 was astounding, and even more incredible was the diversity and quality the label kept up during this time. This mix looks at the harder end of the Intelligent sound which was a precursor to the Jazz & Bass sound Shadow would specialise in a little later down the track.

EZ Rollers & Aquasky were the two main stays of this sound and Walk This Land turned out to be THE defining tune going on to be remixed a million times and featuring in the sound track for the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. At the same time some of Shadows more chilled artists were having a go at the hard sound with Omni Trio’s – Rhythm Methods and Dave Wallace – Expressions Part 1 getting a remix from Tango as prime examples.

Basically you can’t wrong with any of the Moving Shadow tunes from 1996, sp strap yourself in for some intricate drum work, wicked breaks and some sweet melody.

Shadow Wax Vol.5: Hard Intelligence – 1hr of 1996 Moving Shadow

EZ Rollers – Bad Up
Kudos – Horizontal Movements
EZ Rollers – Sunset Phobia
EZ Rollers – Walk the Land
Aquasky – Kauna
JMJ & Ritchie – Illicit Groove
JMJ & Ritchie – Universal Horn Remix
Dave Wallace – Expressions Part 1 (Tango Remix)
Omni Trio – Rhythm Methods
Technical Itch – Can’t You See (Funky Technicians Remix)
Foul Play – Karma Part 1
Omni Trio – Astral Phase
Aquasky – Nylon Roadster
EZ – Rollers – Rolled Into 1 (Photek Remix)

2011, All Label Mix, Amen, Ear & Drum Session

Shadow Wax Vol.4: Moving Shadow 94-95 – Ear & Drum Session 59

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Another in the continuing Shadow Wax series of mixes looking at the legendary Moving Shadow label. This one covers off the same era as Shadow Wax Vol.3 but takes the pressure up by focusing on the harder tunes from the label. Some of these are darkside, some are hard steppers and a lot are heavier remixes of the intelligent released Moving Shadow had out at the time.

Not much else to say really. Amazing music, from amazing artists on one of D&B most amazing labels. Win, win & win.

Shadow Wax Vol.4: Moving Shadow 94-95 – 1hr of hardstep, darkside and heavy remixes

DJ Pulse – Voyager
Mick James – Nice & Deep
DJ Crystal – King of the Beats
D’Cruze – Lonely
Renegade feat. Ray Keith – Something I feel
JMJ & Ritchie – Universal Horn (J.Majik Remix)
Foul Play – Beats Track
Flex & Fats – Somebody
Renegade – Terrorist
Foul Play – Re-Open Your Mind 95
Omni Trio – Living For The Future (FBD Project VIP Mix)
Foul Play – Cutting Loose (Remix)
Omni Trio – Shadowplay
Dead Dred – Dred Bass (Origin Unknown Remix)
Foul Play – The Stepper
DJ Pulse – Stay Calm (Foul Play Remix)
Foul Play – Ignorance
Omni Trio – Soul Promenade (Nookie Remix)
Omni Trio – Mainline (95 Lick)

All Label Mix, Amen, Ear & Drum Session, Melodic

Shadow Wax Vol.3: Moving Shadow 94-95 – Ear & Drum Session 56

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Part 3 of my Moving Shadow retrospectives, this time looking at the Intelligent sound from 1994-95. EZ Rollers, DJ Pulse, JMJ & Ritchie and, in particular, Omni Trio were absolutely on fire. The complexity of the beats and the melodies layered over the top of them are some of the best from that era, and if you love the Amen break as much as I do then you’re in for a treat.

Shadow Wax Vol.3 – 1hr+ of Moving Shadow Intelligence from 94-95

EZ Rollers – Rolled Into One
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Foul Play VIP Mix)
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Rob’s Reconstruction Mix)
DJ Pulse – Return Voyage (Pulse & Stretch Remix)
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk (PFM Remix)
DJ Pulse – Let You In
Omni Trio – Nu Grooves ’94
Blame & Justice – Anthemia
Foul Play – Artificial Intelligence
Omni Trio – Together
Omni Trio – Rollin’ Heights (More Strings Attached Mix)
Foul Play – Music Is The Key (Omni Trio Remix)
Omni Trio – Soul Prominade
Omni Trio – Soul Freestyle
omni Trio – Ghost Rider
Cloud Nine – Blissful Ignorance
Foul Play – Being With You (Hopa & Bones Remix)
JMJ & Ritchie – Universal Horn

All Label Mix, Ear & Drum Session, Jungle, Old Skool, Rave

Shadow Wax Vol.2: Moving Shadow 91-93 – Ear & Drum Session 51

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Part 2 of the on-going Shadow Wax series looking at all things Moving Shadow. This mix lifts the BPM a little one the first installment as we head into the 160bpm+ zone.

Amazing producers as you would expect with JMJ & Ritchie (aka EZ Rollers), Blame, Mixrace, D’Cruze, Omni Trio and a whole host more making an appearance. I’ve tried to slip in some lesser known tracks and rare remixes to keep it interesting, but it’s a Moving Shadow mix so you know it is all good.

Hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did mixing it.

Shadow Wax Vol.2: Moving Shadow 91-93 – More hardcore from the Moving Shadow vaults

JMJ & Ritchie – Hall Of Mirrors (Omni Trio Mirror Image Mix)
Blame – A21
Mixrace – Mixrace Outta Hand
D’Cruze – Want You Now (DJ SS & E.Q. Remix)
JMJ & Ritchie – Case Re-Opened (Deep Blue Brought To Trial Mix)
Joint – The Joint
Omni Trio – Thru The Vibe (2 On 1 Mix)
Higher Sense – Cold Fresh Air
Hyper On Experience – Lord of Null Lines
Blame – This Piano Track (2 Bad Mice Remix)
Foul Play – Finest Illusion (Legal Mix)
Foul Play – Open Your Mind
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Foul Play Remix)
Hyper-On Experience – Lords Of The Null-Lines (Foul Play Remix)
Hyper-On Experience – Thunder Grip
Hyper-On Experience – Disturbance (Tango Remix)
Deep Blue – The Helicopter Tune
Omni Trio – Feel Good (Original In Demand Mix)
Boogie Times Tribe Feat. Q Bass – Real Hardcore

All Label Mix, Amen, Ear & Drum Session, Jungle, Old Skool, Rave

Shadow Wax Vol.1: Moving Shadow 91-93 – Ear & Drum Session 49

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Moving Shadow are without a doubt the label I have bought the most releases from. When the label folded in 2008 I felt like a part of Drum & Bass had died. Rob Playford’s label has had more outstanding releases from more heavy hitting producers than any other, and their influence on broken beats since 1990 can not be ignored. Their logo has the words ‘world domination’ written around it, and I think as a label they achieved this.

In the early days when I was cutting my teeth on rave tunes Moving Shadow had some of the deepest, roughest and most danceable tunes on the scene. Rob Playford as 2 Bad Mice (along with Sean O’Keeffe & Simon Colebrooke) was killing it with Bomb Scare, an anthem so large it still influences producers and gets sampled today. Blame’s – Music Takes You and Omni Trio’s – Mystic Stepper pretty much kicked off the lighter and more musical Intelligent genre of Jungle and D&B. And Kaotic Chemistry’s – Illegal Subs showed just how catchy and devastating Breakbeat Hardcore really could be.

This mix is the beginning of a series that will take you through 15+ years of Moving Shadow History. It is going to be long and god knows how many parts there will be to it, because as a label Moving Shadow have literally thousands of releases. But one thing I do know is that the mixes are going to be quality and the music exceptional.

Shadow Wax Vol.1 – 1hr of Moving Shadow from 91-93

Cosmos & Dibs – Oh So Nice
2 Bad Mice – 2 Bad Mice
Cosmos & Dibs – Star Eyes
2 Bad Mice – Ware Mouse
2 Bad Mice – Bomb Scare
2 Bad Mice – 2 Bad Mice (Remix)
Tone Def – Big Love (Love Mix)
Sci – Uprising
Blame – Music Takes You (Original Version)
Blame – Ecstasy Takes You
Blame – Music Takes Two
Blame – Piano Takes You
Hyper On Experience – H.E. Anthem
Kaotic Chemistry – Space Cakes
Omni Trio – Mystic Stepper (Feel Better)
Kaotic Chemistry – Illegal Subs (Krome & Time Remix)
Blame – 2 Bad Mice Take You

All Label Mix, Amen, Ear & Drum Session, Jungle, Old Skool, Rave

Subbase Station One – Ear & Drum Session 47

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Suburban Base & Moving Shadow were first two major labels in the Breakbeat/Hardcore scene. By ‘major’ I mean spitting out top quality 12″ release after release and managing to pump out CD compilations as well. The Suburban Base influence was all over pirate radio in the early days and looking at their roster of artists it is pretty easy to see why.

Between Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era, Krome & Time, D’Cruze, Blame, DJ Hype, Foul Play, EZ Rollers, 2 Bad Mice and Marvelous Cain they had just about every big name in the Breakbeat/Hardcore scene. Rave anthems were the name of game back then and Subbase had them covered. I don’t remember ever seeing a DJ’s crate worth his salt back in 92-93 who didn’t have a stack of Suburban Base records in his selection.

This mix was played live on my birthday at a party I held. I did consider going back in to the studio to do a more controlled version of the mix, but I got worried I would lose the energy and spontaneity captured in this one. So I have left well alone and just let it roll. I’m dedicating this mix to Stevie Boy who reminded me just what a great label Suburban Base were and to all those who remember.

Subbase Statione One – 1hr of Suburban Base Records

Run Tings – Fire Burning
Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era – Far Out
Future Assassins – Future Sound
Krome & Time – This Sound is for the Underground
Smart E’s – Sesame’s Treat (Krome & Time Remix)
D’Cruze – Life (Hands to Heaven)
Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era – Breaks the Unbreakable
Blame – A21
Krome & Time – The Slammer (Nookie Remix)
Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era – Calm Downizm
Krome & Time – The Slammer
DJ Hype – I Don’t Understand
EZ Rollers – Rolled Into One
Flex & Fats – Somebody
DJ Hype – Weird Energy
Foul Play – Open Your Mind
2 Bad Mice – Underworld
DJ Hype – The Chopper (Johnny Jungle Remix)
Marvellous Cain – CB4

2007, All Label Mix, Amen, Melodic, Requested Archive

Globally Connected – Jungletrain Session 178

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This mix is being re-hosted for ASC. His Covert Operations label was one of the finest atmospheric D&B labels, not only for it’s quality music, but also for it’s constant output of new talent from around the world. When the label folded last year it left a huge hole in the D&B landscape that still hasn’t been properly filled to this day. Even though his label has shut down ASC has gone on to bigger and better things joining up with the mighty dBridge on his NonPlus+ / Exit / Autonomic labels.

The Global Connections series (volumes 1-6) broke so many great producers and gave them their first chance to be heard. This mix is an hours worth of what I considered the best tunes from the series. If you like sci-fi beats and atmospheric melodies this will put some buoyancy in your floatation tank.

Globally Connected – 1hr of atmospherics from Covert Operations

Altair – Reminisce
Ezeekil – False Profit
Probe One – Storm Cell
Altair – Collateral
ASC – Monochrome
Method One – In The Quiet Hours
Kytel – New Eyes For Old
Noric – Aqueous Passage
Theory – Aurora Flash
Solar Empire – Dynamics
Km & Paralyzah – Nega
Neon – Higher State
Tidal – The N.O.C.
Ruxpin – Now I Turn To You

All Label Mix, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Melodic

Back to the Basement – Jungletrain Session 186

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Another request this time from my other half who actually asked me to put it on her iPod. But listening back to it I thought it was more than worthy of a re-upping here as well.

Basement Records was one of the original labels that got me into D&B. Running from the very beginning of rave back in 1989, Basement always had a broken beats integrated into their sound which is what drew me to them. They gave Peshay his first big break, along with Photek in his ‘The Sentinel’ guise and Source Direct under the ‘Intensity’ alias. As a label their influence on the early Breakbeat Hardcore and D&B scene can still be felt today even though they almost stopped completely around 1996.

Interestingly they have resurfaced with a dubstep and grime release called the Nu Basement EP. A lot of this set come from their digital re-releases and if you are interested in picking up some of these you can find them as the Classics Series here for download.

Back to the Basement – 1hr of Basement Records classics

Peshay – Endless Thoughts
The Sentinel – Pulse of Life
Ruff with the Smooth – Twisted Girl
The Architex – Blueprint
The Sentinel – Genesis
Peshay – Futurama
Jack N Phil – I Like It
The Sentinel – Awakening
Roger Johnson – Walk of Life
Roger Johnson – Drum N The Bass
Roger Johnson – One By One
Intensity – Intensity
The Sentinel – Heavy Vibes
Intensity – Forbidden Medicine

All Label Mix, Cross Genre, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

Certifiable – Ear & Drum Session 27

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When Certificate 18 closed it doors back in 2002 I was crushed. Here was a leabel that let producers find their own sound and had no fear about putting out experimental D&B at it’s finest. It’s list of artists was pure quality with the likes of Klute, Teebee, Polar, Code of Practice and Studio Pressure all honing their production skills at the label. The beauty of a Certificate 18 12″ or EP was that you never new what you where going to get, but that it was always going to be good.

This mix comes from mainly the albums that Certificate 18 released. Classics such as Teebee’s Black Science Labs and Through the Eyes of the Scorpion, Klute’s debut LP Fear of People, Polar’s sublime Still Moving and of course the lanels flagship compilations the Hidden Rooms albums.  The mix is as diverse as the label itself and jumps from style to style, but still manages to maintain it’s flow.

This is for all those who remember and for those that want to learn what amzing experimental D&B sounds like.

Certifiable – 2hrs of Certificate 18

Klute – Three Of Us
Klute – Workout
Klute – Leo 9
Teebee – The Void
Teebee – Severed Dreams
Teebee – Silent Depths
Sounds of Life – Hidden Rooms
Polar – Mind of a Killer
Studio Pressure – Currents (Studio Pressure Remix)
Lexis – Groove Therapy (Photek Remix)
Sounds of Life – A Spice of Jazz
Klute – Chicks
Polar – 5am
Polar – Innocent
Klute – Phone Call (Matrix Remix)
Klute – We R the Ones
Klute – X-mass
Teebee – Black Rain
Klute & The Green Man – Lost
Code of Practice – Can We Change The Future (Klute Remix)
Code of Practice – Can We Change The Future (Sounds of Life Remix)
Teebee – Stolen Documents
Teebee – Frequencies
Teebee – Spaceage
Teebee – Spaceage (Teebee Remix)
Sounds of Life – Release the Bells (Wax Doctor Remix)