Category Archives: 2021

2021, Ambient, Chill Out, Down Low Session

The Down Low: Session 050

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I’d been scratching my head about what to do to make the 50th Down Low Session special, and also have had a real hankering recently to listen to all the old chill out stuff that originally pulled me into electronic music. One massive CD buying spree later and here we are with a mix of some of the most laid back tunes of an era.

Covering everything from Trance, Techno, House, Acid Jazz and Dub there are some absolutely incredible music in this mix including from such luminaries as Moby, Orbital, Massive Attack, D’Cruise and of course LTJ Bukem. Happy 50th!

The Down Low: Session 050 – 1.5hrs of Chill Out and Ambient

Alien Mutation & Cyberix – I Had a Hallucination
Aphratec – Quebec
W – Redheadedstepchild (Symbiosis Remix)
Initial Research – System Procedure
Massive Attack – Three
Unlimited Dream Co. – Feel Like I’m Falling
D’Cruise – Sega Rally (Trip Hop Mix)
Juan Hansen – Hiding Sun
LTJ Bukem – Moodswings
Moby – Move (Volume Remix)
The Sunkings – Galapagos
Electronic Brain – The Future
X-Pulsion – Ninety Two
The Fluid – The Man With Three Heads
Orbital – Attached (Tease)
Black Noise – Black Noise
Synthetix – The Tao of Dub
LunaSol – Butterfly
LTJ Bukem – Cosmic Interlude
Mulios – Argentine Dream
Erkka – Talk to the Hand
Deep Space Network – Eleven Bars

2021, All Artist Mix, Atmospheric, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Melodic

Ear & Drum Session: 214 – PFM x 4Hero

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Recently PFM and 4Hero have remastered versions of some of their classic tunes that defined an era. PFM in the form of a bunch of singles and 4Hero with the re-release of their seminal LPs 2 Pages and Jacob’s Optical Stairway.

So what happens when you take two of D&B’s greatest acts and blend them together? Great things, that’s what!

PFM x 4Hero – 1.5hrs of 90s atmospheric masterpieces

PFM – For All of Us
4Hero – Universal Love (Single Version)
4Hero – Universal Love (Internal Affairs Mix)
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Majestic 12
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Fragments of a Lost Language
PFM – Is the Only and the One (Unreleased Original Full Length Version)
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – The Naphosisous Wars
4Hero – One Final Hour
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Solar Feelings
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk (PFM Remix)
4Hero – Evacuation Plan
PFM – Bonus Track
PFM – Wash Over Me (Original Instrumental Version)
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Jacob’s Optical Illusion
David Holmes – Gone (PFM Remix)
Force of Nature – Cool Spot (PFM Remix)
PFM – Dreams (Club Mix)

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Ear & Drum Session: 213 – Cloud Nine

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Liquid D&B continues its amazing run of quality and quantity in 2021 with scene stalwarts like BCee, Lenzman and Pola & Bryson rolling out euphoric tunes like it easy. Spoiler, it isn’t.

We’ve also got some OG producers in the mix such as the recently retired London Elektricity with his 10 year rework of the classic piano monster The Plan that Cannot Fail. Plus John B and Digital with their ode to Mr B’s anthem Up All Night called Time Goes By. It is different, but the DNA can definitely be heard with the rave stabs and those airy pads.

Big shout to Dan Guidance and Henry too for lending me the name for the mix with their tune Cloud Nine. Sit back, shut your eyes and let the music take you away.

Cloud Nine – 1.5hrs of Euphoric D&B

Imo-Lu – Circle
John B & Digital – Time Goes By
BCee & Charlotte Haining – Remind Me (S.P.Y Remix)
BCee & Charlotte Haining – History (Technimatic Remix)
Ritual & Alpha Rhythm – Mote of Dust
Volition – Save You
Seba & JR Vallo – Second Path
Furney – Boulevard
Chimpo feat. Salo – Keep U Round
London Elekricity – The Plan That Cannot Fail (10Y Rework)
Anthony Kasper – Departure (Technimatic Remix)
Eschaton – Sadhanna (Pagent Remix)
Dan Guidance & Henry – Cloud 9
Duoscience – Praise
Random Movement – I Stayed Around (Lenzman Reinterpretation)
Technimatic & Riya – When the Dawn Breaks
Macca & Liz Contreras – Always Yours (S.P.Y Remix)
Pola & Bryson & Solch – Neverend
Pola & Bryson – feat. Lauren Archer) – Under
Elixr – Wanted You To Know
Crash Comet – Feeling
Monika & Akuratyde feat. Oktae – We Breath
BCee – Captured in Time (DPR Remix)

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B

Ear & Drum Session: 212 – Urbane

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It’s been a hot minute since I’ve hit up the rougher side of D&B, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some excellent heavy hitters out there at the moment.

Workforce continue to kill it with their giant roller Back Up. The ever reliable Muffler has smashed it again with the suitably titled Super Heavy. And ever the usually laid back and atmospheric Rain Forrest has come out swinging with his shot at hard and heavy, Shadow Work.

With a good mix of of old and new producers, this mix is one worth turning the volume and sub up on.

Urbane – 1hr of Heavy D&B

Q Project & Myth – Demonz
John B – Up All Night (Data 3 Remix)
Workforce – Back Up
Blood Trust – Transparent Blue (feat. Kid Drama)
Hexa – No More
Mikal – Resampled
Muffler – Super Heavy
Physics – Cultivator
Conrad Subs – Love 4 U
Jem One – Sunday Rain
Malign – Tearaway
Jubei – Slipstream
MKD – Krill
Rainforest – Shadow Work
Airstrike – Radials
Doctor feat. Tony Anthem – Tears of Mine (Gunmen & Specimen A Remix)
Paul T & Edward Oberon – Music’s Got Soul (feat. Cleaveland Watkiss)

2021, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Soulful

Ear & Drum Session: 211 – Often Mist

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Back again on the soulful D&B tip once again. It’s starting to look like this is becoming a movement within a movement, with liquid splitting out into dance floor movers and the more chilled, soulful sound.

A lot of the artists pushing this sound seem to be relatively new and coming through on labels such as Celsius, Fokuz and Spearhead. That being said, there are always some reliable regulars like FX909, GLXY and Pola & Bryson who also regularly touch on the soulful side.

An excited and extra big shout goes out to Voyager who has returned to his D&B roots and blessed us with some recent out put that is just as solid as his original releases from back in the day.

Often Mist – 1hr of Soulful D&B

Neuron – Sound of Water
Setting Sun – Walk:r
John B & Digital – Time Goes by
FX909 – Fly Away
Inadhertz, Felix Raymon & Jamal Dilmen – Too Much
Alpha Rhythm – Subarctic Signal VIP
GLXY – Sweet Lows (feat. Rhi)
Chimpo – Keep U Round (feat. Salo)
Voltage & Bulgarian Goddess – Endless Dreaming (Voltage VIP)
Submorphics – Let it Shine (feat. Satl & Veda Black)
Walk:r feat. Riya – Paragon
Lally & Aaliyah Esprit – Hustlin’
Macca, Liz Contreras & Critical Event – Snow
Citra – Snow
Akuratyde – Evergreen
Pola & Bryson – Under (feat. Lauren Archer)
Fox & Satl – Sunshine Blues (feat. KSR)
Voyager – Kokoro

2021, Bass Music, Down Low Session

The Down Low: Session 049

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Back on the 130bpm tip again, this Down Low focuses mainly on techno, breaks and garage beats with a darkish vibe. Kicking things off is the bleak Octurnal by Imogen & Ben Pest. This sets the tone for the first half until the jungle vibes of Dusky – Yoohoo (Benton Remix) and Dizzee Rascal’s return to form – You Don’t Know (Radio Edit) lighten the mood.

Keep an ear out for the closer, Vapourspace’s seminal trance rave classic Gravitational Arch of 10. It took me 20 years to track down this tune and I will never get tired of rolling it out.

The Down Low: Session 049 – A 1hr excursion into Techno, Breaks & Garage

Imogen & Ben Pest – Octurnal
Sam Binga & Addison Groove – Galectro
Bicep – Atlas
Bicep – Apricots
Bicep & Clara La San – Saku
Blinding – Breath Out
Acid Metric – Uppercut
Kamikaze Space Programme – Radio
Habstrakt & Marten Hørger – Ya Think
Photek – Levitation
Dusky – Yoohoo (Benton Remix)
Dizzee Rascal – You Don’t Know (Radio Edit)
Netsky – Complicated
Pépé Elle – Cardon Dance
Aerosoul – Isla Bianca (LTN Remix)
Tony Romera – Stuck in Your Head
Ae:ther – He Does Iy
Vapourspace – Gravitational Arch of 10

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Roller

EAR & DRUM SESSION: 210 – Feel the Floor

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Dance floor D&B is flooding the release schedules at the moment, and it feels like the opening up restrictions around the world has inspired a lot of artists to try get people back to the dance.

This mix has some absolutely belting shufflers kicking off with Breaks rework of L-Side & MC Fats – High Times. In a similar good time vein is Paul T & Edward Oberon feat. Cleveland Watkiss – Music’s Got Soul. But to be honest all the tunes in this mix have that heady mix of euphoria, bass lines, beats and solid production that make you want to nod your head and move your feet.

Feel the Floor – 1hr+ of Floor Shaking D&B

L-Side & MC Fats – High Times (Break Mix)
Jubei – Barracuda
Silence Groove – No Service
DLR – Make My Mind Go
Kasra – Die 4 It
DLR, Script & MC Focus – Perception (Liohness Remix)
BCee, Charlotte Haining & Emba – Home for Good (Villem Remix)
Sweetpea feat. MC Chickaboo – The Jump Off
DLR – Sufferation
GLXY – Method
Paul T & Edward Oberon feat. Cleveland Watkiss – Music’s Got Soul
Stereotype – All I Need
Cosmology – Something Different
Lenzman – Down for Whatever (Jubei Remix)
Kidsonic – Deeper Love
DLR, Script & MC Focus – Perception (Trail & Dibby Remix)
The Sauce & Fox – Everything Boss
Future Cut – 20/21 (DLR Remix)
Universal Project – Lost In It
Mikal – Resample
Monia & Akuratyde – Amber
DLR – U.D.O
Kasra – Us
Acid Lab – Funk Tune
Punctual & Nabiha – The Step (Pola & Bryson Remix)

2021, Atmospheric, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Uncategorized

EAR & DRUM SESSION: 209 – Atmospheric Layers

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Atmospheric D&B has come roaring back with some of the scenes finest going back to their roots and producing some absolutely beautiful Intelligent style D&B. ASC, Equinox, Voyager, Seba and even PFM have been elevating the sound to new levels.

Not to be left out, newer heads such as Jrumhand, Earl Grey and even Metalheadz wunderkind Kid Drama are keeping up, bringing their own take to the classic Amen driven sound.

Atmospheric Layers – 1.5hrs of Atmospheric D&B

ASC – Tradewinds
Equinox – From Above
Response – Betrayal
Nebula – Calm Breeze
Earl Grey – Mime Jar Lens
Nelver – Oceans of Rain
Voyager – Aurora
DRS, Dynamite MC & Unglued – Brothers
Kid Drama – Diazdaze
Seba – Nostalgia
Villem & Alpha Rhythm – The Maker
Jrumhand – Intuition
Bop – Memories
J Majik – Serenity
Equinox – Barcelona
Patience – Near Earth Orbit
Mineral – Silent Promises
Earl Grey – Levitate VIP
PFM – Aspirations

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Ear & Drum Session: 208 – Bright Nights

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Hitting up the soulful side of Liquid D&B again in this hour long excursion through some of the best melodic beats available right now.

GLXY has been creeping into my crate regularly of late. This duo has been rolling out beautiful tune after tune, and if you haven’t checked out their Research & Development LP I strongly suggest you get on it. Ritual is another who’s work on the Reach Out EP took me totally by surprise. With more hits than misses, this EP has no business being as amazingly strong as it is. And a big shout to Calibre (again) for his ridiculously lush remix of Lady Blackbird’s soul classic Collage. This one is in the running for tune of the year for me.

Bright Nights – 1hr of Soulful D&B

GLXY & [KSR] – Breathless
Submorphics feat. Big Brooklyn Red – Daydreaming
Vilem – One Track Mind
The Upbeats & Shapeshifter – Aotea
FX909 – Fly Away
Redeyes feat. [KSR] – A Thousand Times
GLXY – New Soul
Ritual – Reach Out
Ritual – Close Your Eyes
Lenzman & Danny Sanchez – Gimmie a Sec
GLXY feat. Rhi – Sweet Low
Ritual – Currents
Submorphics feat. Satl & Veda Black) – Let it Shine
Ink & BTK – Triumph
Erykah Badu – On & On (Silent Dust Remix)
Pola & Bryson feat. Lauren Archer – Under
Flo.Von & Tim Klein – No Better
Sultan & Shepard feat. The Cut – White Lies (Keeno Remix)
Lady Blackbird – Collage (Calibre Remix)
BCee – Capture in Time (DPR Remix)

2021, Ambient, Bass Music, Down Low Session

The Down Low: Session 048

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When D&B producers put their mind to slower tempos they often leave other producers who eat, sleep and breath those tempos in the dust. This time we give the Down Low treatment to 140bpm. While there are some non-D&B producers sprinkled throughout, Sunchase, Amit, Bop, Shy FX, Dub Phizix, Resound, Calibre, Nelver, Seathasky and Om Unit all have their roots firmly planted in the 170bmp world of D&B.

Covering off Ambient, House, Techno, Breaks, Bass, Dance Hall and Electronica this set is the definition of eclectic. Special shout to Shy FX for his tune Carnival Culture which Ive been trying to slide into a set for the longest time. Looks like I finally got there.

The Down Low: Session 048 – 1hr+ of Ambient, House, Techno, Breaks, Bass, Dance Hall and Electronica

Minor Science – Second Language (Intro)
Sunchase – Nowhere
Amit – Acid Trip (j:kenzo Remix)
Addison Groove – Brand New Drop (Nikki Nair Remix)
Bop – Beach Simulator 3D
Dustmite & Kuru – Kare
Shy FX – Carnival Culture
Conduct x On-U Sound feat. Ce’Cile & Toddla T – Make up Your Mind (Dub Phizix Remix)
Nite Flite – Playbook
Luz1e – 4/5//20/18/15/9/20
Resound – Step Ahead
Chimpo – Murda Boy
Calibre feat. Cimone – Time to Breathe
Bop – Winter Mood
Calibre – Has to Happen
Nelver – Endless Planet
Bop – Twilight
Seathasky – Sun Stars Sky
Om Unit – Despite It All
Vandera – More Past Than Future