Category Archives: 2010

2010, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session, Free Tunes, Melodic, Minimal

Unrelease Yourself – Ear & Drum Session 43

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Getting in one last mix for 2010 and it is a belter. This year has been good for D&B in general, but for me the quality of the free music circulated in 2010 is as good if not better than the official releases. Free tunes in general allow a producer to get away from producing tracks that need to fit into a record labels ‘sound’ and allows them the freedom to really let fly.

For me this year Subwave’s ‘Gift EP’ and S13’s amazing ‘Yourself EP’ were standouts. Deep, melodic and totally different from anything else out there (they are also available for download here at the Ear & Drum). But to be honest all the tracks in this mix are great and really show that D&B is still evolving in all sorts of exciting ways.

If you want to save yourself time searching for the tracks in this mix I haven’t hosted here at The Ear & Drum during the year, then try looking at THIS LINK which leads to a DOA thread about the best free MP3s from 2010.

Happy New Year to everyone who has supported me throughout the year and here’s hoping 2011 is even better.

Unrelease Yourself – 1hr of free and unreleased tunes from 2010

Metrik – Ocean Drive
The Law – Atlantic Blues
Infinity – The XX (Bachelors Of Science Remix)
Booka Shade – Regenerate (Thinnen Remix)
S13 – Yourself
Soul Intent – The Dark Robotics Orchestra
S13 – Immortal
Sabre – One Hundred Teeth (Parallel Remix)
Subwave – Gift
Random Movement – Cutting Thru Hackney
Blu Mar Ten – She Moves Through [ASC Remix]
Alic Perez – Self Control
Alex Reece – Basic Principles (Commix Remix)
Able Danger – UGNX
Sabre – One Hundred Teeth (Enei Remix)
S13 – Earth Ulro

2010, Amen, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B

Screwface – Ear & Drum Session 42

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Ruff and tuff D&B doesn’t hold a great deal of interest to me these days. Neuro has become very formulaic, new jump up isn’t a patch on the old jump up and skullstep is just, well skullstep (nuf said). However I do still manage to find the odd harder edged track which does appeal and in here are some of the best ones I could find for the final quarter of the year.

Nu:Tone and Logistics have combined their powers to create the fierce Nu:Logic sub-brand. Sundown is a proper amen boomer of the highest order and New Technique totally lives up to it’s name. Limewax is one of those guys you either love or hate, but for a skullstep-esq (is that a word?!?) producer he has some serious talent. B Key used to be one of my favourite producers, and his Guitar Track proves that he can still produce a smooth but tuff track when he puts his mind to it.

If you like your hard beats you’ll love this, but if you don’t I’d still recommend giving it a go as there is more to hard D&B then formula, skulls and air raid sirens and I think this mix proves that point.

Screwface – 1hr of tuff D&B from the end of 2010

Nu:Logic – Sundown
Limewax – One of Them
B Key – Guitar Track
Nu:Logic – New Technique
Subwave – Darkness Dub
Artificial Intelligence – Moment of Truth
Break & Silent Witness – Kontroller
Black Sun Empire – Deadhouse (feat. Jade)
Beta 2 – Release
Trei – Mindless
Audio – Genesis Device
Subwave – Road Rage
Theory – Jungle Soul
Gemini – Down
DJ Trace – Fantazia

2010, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Minimal

Let Nature Feed Itself – Ear & Drum Session 40

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It’s been a ripe old year for the chilled out side of D&B. Minimal has had it’s wicked way with the scene, but outside of that there has also been a return to the deep and mellow sounds. Artists like Command Strange, ATP and Calibre are pumping out quality beats on a laid back tip whilst the new LP’s from Mutated Forms and Artificial Intelligence show that deeper tracks can still pack a serious punch.

Also a big nod to Mr José Gonzålez who’s cover of Kylie’s – Hand on Your Heart has been one of my guilty pleasures of 2010.

Let Nature Feed Itself – 1hr of Deep & Mellow D&B Beats

Stray – Saturday
Subwave – Gift
Command Strange – It’s All Over
Tyler Straub – Trusted Judgement
ATP – Soul Fly (feat. Jett)
June Miller – Poison the Well
Calibre – Even If
BCee & S.P.Y – Nothing to Declare
Theory – Weirdos
Bop – Song About My Dog (Subwave Remix)
Sam KDC – Detached
Mutated Forms – Last Time (feat. Jenna G)
Artificial Intelligence – Stand Alone
José Gonzålez – Hand on Your Heart

2010, Free Tunes, News

The Gift EP – Free Subwave EP from Metalheadz

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If you haven’t already heard the Mighty Subwave has kindly offer up a free EP on the Metalheadz label. To say this kind of quality doesn’t come around very often is an understatement so don’t sleep on it. All the tracks are strong, but Gift and in particular Darkness Dub are total killer and tracks I’d happily shell out cash for.

Big ups Metalheadz and Subwave for the musical generosity.

Subwave – The Gift EP

Gift
Memories
Reflection
Darkness Dub

2010, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session

Small Steps – Ear & Drum Sessions 39

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A quick 45 minute mix to catch everyone up with what’s sounding good in October.

But even though it is small in size it is big in tunes with tracks like Unquote – Hide Your Tears Because We Are In Heaven, Shapeshifter – Touch (Netsky Remix), Theory – Jungle Soul and Subwave – Road Rage being the standouts. There are some really interesting sounds around at the moment and it mixes together like a dream.

Small Steps – 45 Minutes of up to date D&B

Madmen & Poets – Its Not Right
Unquote – Hide Your Tears Because We Are In Heaven
Kharm – Charade
Soul Intent – A.I.
Shapeshidter – Touch (Netsky Remix)
Artificial Intelligence – Moment of Truth
Seathasky & Beatchemist – Learn To Fly
Unquote + Molecular Structures – Lubov Moya
Theory – Jungle Soul
Shapeshifter – Lifetime (Logistics Remix)
Subwave – Road Rage
Audio – Genesis

2010, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session

The Switch – Ear & Drum Session 38

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This mix is all about the new tunes. 2010 has been very fruitful in terms of all genres producing some stand out tracks. Minimal of course has taken off, but the new jungle sound is catching up and the hospital style roller, liquid vocal tracks and heavy smashers will never go out of style.

I got all sorts of styles going on in this one, and it switches up all over the place. Stand outs for me would have to be Die & Interface’s new track ‘Bright Lights’ (which is a floor moving monster), X Nation’s remix of Spirit’s ‘All I Need’ (which brings back the stripped back jungle sound and Heist’s ‘Continental Drift’ (which brings minimal and atmospheric D&B together in an amazing blend).

The Switch – 1.5hrs of new tunes for 2010

Furi Anga – The Day My Unicorn Died
Kharm – Hiding Place
Heist – Continental Drift
Klute – Ashram
Spirit – All I Need (X-Nation Remix)
Naibu – Fireflies (Seba Remix)
Utah Jazz – Relaxation Interlude
Spectrasoul – Glimpse (feat. d.Bridge)
Circa – Kabal
Seba – Distance
Total Science feat. Conrad – Soul Patrol (Marky & S.P.Y. Remix)
Future Engineers – Ellipse
Alix Perez – Behind Time
Klute – Fool’s Love
Inside Man – Deeper Love
Underworld – Scribble feat. High Contrast
DJ Trace – Fantazia
Phil Tangent – Lunar
Utah Jazz – Angels Interlude
Lenzman & Treez – Stellar
Kodo – Transmission
Sabre – One Hundred Teeth (Enei Remix)
Serum & Bladerunner – Who Jah Bless
A-Sides – Rebel Rouser (feat. MC Fats)
Klute – Black Pony
Die & Interface feat. William Cartright – Bright Lights (Rockers Mix)

2010, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session

A Saturday Night Sumting – Ear & Drum Session 37

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First the first time in 3 years (since my son was born) I was left alone on a Saturday night to just get my head down and mix for mixing sake. There are no themes or tricks to this mix, it’s just what I felt like playing at the time. I pull out some new stuff, some old stuff and some down right dirty stuff.

This is the sound of me letting lose on a Saturday night.

A Saturday Night Sumting – 1.5hrs of Rolling Beats

Fanu – The End of An Era
Alix Perez – Down The Line (Break Remix)
Fourward – Eyelash
Dom & Roland – Mind Feeders
Ed Rush & Optical – Rock Da House
Clive Concept – Out Of Control
Theory – Aurora Flash
Lenzman – Coincidence
S.P.Y. – Hurricane
D.Kay & Lee – Tuning (D.Kay VIP Mix)
DJ Kalm – Violet
SKC – Dream Come True
A-Sides – Rebel Rouser (feat. MC Fats)
Klute – Divinity
Trei & Dose – The Other Part of Me
Ian Brown – Illegal Attacks (Rufige Kru Remix)
Martsman – Halow
Bachelors of Science – The Rush
AK1200 – Junior’s tune (Digital Remix)
Sunchase – Remove Heaven
Kiko – Passport
DJ SS – Black (Bladerunner Remix)
Raiden – Aquarius
D.Kay & Lee – Extazzy

2010, Amen, Jungle

Dogs On Acid Jungle Competition Mix

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I had the great honour recently of being asked to do a mix for DOA of jungle tunes contributed by members from the Grid section of the site. The Grid is where the producers hang out and I wasn’t sure what to expect really. But I gottah say the quality of the tunes and the nailing of the 94-95 jungle sound was spot on. There were a few exceptions that I wouldn’t personally call jungle, but they were still great tracks and went into this mix.

So if you are a jungle fan and want a mix of never before heard tracks all written in 2010 then this one should fit the bill nicely. A big thanks to Ben Kei and Drumbeat Agenda for getting me involved and all the producers for being so generous with their production output.

DOA Jungle Competition Mix – 1hr+ of brand new tunes in a 94-95 jungle stylee

Sonny Jim – Loop
Poshek – Unknown
ATheory – Inside Your Love
dib – Watch We For
Amen Fyre – Badboy Sound
Skywalka – Bad Boy Ting
DJ A Twat – Jah
DJ Rubdown – Hold It Down
Lite On – Untitled
Mocks – One Big Ghetto
Lethargik – Down Time
Over Drive UK – Test Primitive
Ben Kei – jungle Fiddler
Drum Mekanik – Jungle Vision
Adsih – Shotdown
Frantik – Deadline Pressure (Dancehall ‘Ear Dis)
Candy Hands – Journey Outwards
Artists Unknown – Bad Hearing Organisation
Sonny Jim – Junglist
Barry of Button – New Fashion For 94
Drumbeat Agenda – The World Is Yours
DJ id – Cocaine 12

2010, News

Basic Operations – The Lost Tapes

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Basic Operations (Atlantic Connection & Kevin Focus) went their separate ways in 2005 leaving a legacy of awesome music. But even better they left a swag of unreleased tunes which they are now putting out under their ‘Lost Tapes’ series. Classics like Drifting on an Aspect (VIP), Keep on Dreaming, New Dawn and Since I’ve Seen You which Bukem caned on dub for years.

You can get a listen and buy it exclusively from bandcamp.com. And to top it all off Basic Ops are also slated to be going back into the studio again to work on some new releases which I am hoping will hit sooner rather than later.

LSTPS001
Basic Operations
The Lost Tapes Vol. 1

1. Drifting on an Aspect (VIP)
2. Since I’ve Seen You
3. O.S.F
4. Keep On Dreaming

2010, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Minimal

Vegetative – Ear & Drum Session 33

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Say what you like about the minimal trend in Drum & Bass it looks like it is here to stay. It might not ignite the dance floors but it is sweet on the ears and awesome to veg out to. This is a mix of the latest minimal tracks that are doing it for me.

Sunchase dominates with his new album Static Nitro, but s13 also puts in a good appearance with his Yourself EP. See else where on the blog for a free download of this killer EP from a fresh name. Lenzman, Rockwell and S.P.Y. get honourable mentions for always coming correct with their minimal sound.

You may notice there is a track not listed. For the life of me I can’t find it and if anyone out there knows what it is I’d be mightily pleased if you tell me what it is. Cheers.

Vegetative – 1hr 15mins of Minimal Lushness

Sunchase – Asphalt
dBridge – Love Hotel
Sunchase Violet
s13 – Earth Ulro
Sunchase – Keyring
Netsky – Storm Clouds
Rockwell – My War
Lenzman – More Than I Can Take
Blue Motion & The Square – I’m Dreaming
???
s13 – Immortal
Synthetic Pigments – Morning Glory
Anile – Never Together
Omar – Lay It Down (Triad Full Vocal Mix)
BCee – Mr. Bidigan (Total Science Remix)
Lenzman – Open Page (feat. Riya)
Furi Anga – Inside the Sun
Jose James – Warrior (Rockwell Remix)
Dephzac – We Are Together
S.P.Y. – Hurricane