Tag Archives: Ear & Drum Session

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

Amen, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Jungle, Melodic, Old Skool

A Gentleman’s Selection – Ear & Drum Session 36

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Ah Intelligent Jungle. If ever there was genre of D&B that melts my heart this is the one. Back in the day the MC would shout out, “This one’s for the ladies.” And you just knew that what would come next would be pure musical ecstasy.

There are some big names in this mix like Omni Trio, JMJ & Ritchie, DJ Pulse, T-Power and A-Sides, but I’ve tried to keep eclectic and slip in the sneaky remixes and the producers most people haven’t heard much of. Not much else to say about this one but let it roll baby.

A Gentleman’s Selection – 1.5hrs of Intelligent Jungle from 1995

Universal Love – Killer Whale
The 2 G’s – Energy (Remix)
Omni Trio – Soul Promenade (Nookie Remix)
DJ Pulse – So Fine
SE9 Crew – So Sweet
T-Power – Mutant Jazz
Essence of Aura – Northern Lights
Pascal – P-Funk Era
Concept 3 – Rush (Remix)
Jodeci – Feelin’ (LTJ Bukem Remix)
Intel Inside – I’ve Got the Music
DJ Pulse – Let You In
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Foul Play VIP)
Urban Jungle – Volcano Style
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk
Dub Selector – Champion Dub (Exclusive VIP Remix)
Drum + Bass – The Feeling
Matrix – The Message
A-Sides – Illusions (Exclusive Dub Plate Remix)
J & J – Midnight
Mental Power – Deep Soul

Ear & Drum Session, Melodic

Decadance 2000: Part 1 – Ear & Drum Session 34

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This is a new series of mixes I’m going to do from year to year that looks back at where D&B was at 10 years ago. This mix is part 1 of 2 that looks at the year 2000. I’ve concentrated on the more melodic stuff for this mix and the part 2 will look at the big smashers.

The new millennium seemed to fit D&B perfectly as it was always a forward looking music. D&B parties seemed to explode again after dying off a little in 98-99 and a new generation of producers and labels started to forge their own new sounds. Music technology was getting better and cheaper allowing more and more people who had always loved the music to finally start writing their own tunes. It seemed like everyone was trying to make D&B.

J. Majik had one of the biggest hits of the year with Love Is Not A Game and a little known label called Hospital was starting to show some serious promise. LTJ Bukem released his first solo album Journey Inwards to critical acclaim and Klute, Marcus Intalex & ST Files and Omni Trio continued to show how it was done when it came to melodic D&B.

Decadance 2000: Part 1 – 1hr of Melodic D&B from the year 2000

J. Majik – Love Is Not A Game (Original Radio Edit)
Fellowship – Coming On Strong
Klute – Three of Us
Real Time – Mine
Omni Trio – Secret Life
LTJ Bukem – Deserted Vaults (Instrumental)
Grand Unified Featuring Kadeem – Music Makes Me Feel This Way
London Elektricity – Superstructure (John B Remix)
London Elektricity – Wishing Well (Danny Byrd Remix)
London Elektricity – Round The Corner (Origin Unknown Remix)
Citizen & DJ Kalm – Venus
Marcus Intalex & ST Files – Moonwalk
Klute – Chicks
Bad Company – Colonies
Future Cut – Busted
Total Science – Let It Go
Big Bud – Millennium (Carlito Remix)

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

2010, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Mercurial – Ear & Drum Session 32

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This year has been a good year for big vocal numbers with a smashing beat behind them. Hospital as always are leading the charge, but labels like Horizons, Esprit, Spearhead and Fokuz are also putting out some amazing dance floor drum & bass. Netsky is on fire right now and artists like S.P.Y., Lenzman and Bachelors of Science keep consistently banging out great vocal D&B.

Some people have been calling this sound ‘commercialised’, but to be honest I don’t hear it. It might be accessible and something your girlfriend might drag you onto the dance floor to jump around to. But when has that ever been a bad thing?

1hr of New Vocal D&B

Madmen & Poets – Leave It
Netsky – Your Way
Netsky – Mellow
Netsky – I Refuse (Shock One Remix)
Lenzman – Coincidence
Coldbreaker – Don’t Give Up
Robot Redford – Dying Star
Dephzac – We Are Together
Total Science & S.P.Y. Above the Clouds
Bacelors of Science – The Ice Dance (Lenzman Remix)
Netsky – Let’s Leave Tomorrow
Stunna – Back In Time
D Kay & Concept – For Love or Money
Blue Sonix – Luv Me (Logistics VIP)
Chew Lips – Karen (Netsky Remix)
Fat Freddy’s Drop – Cay S Crays (Artificial Intelligence Remix)
Netsky – Iron Heart
Netsky – Memory Lane

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

Fluent Latin – Ear & Drum Session 31

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Someone recently asked for a mix of similar stuff to the music found on the Brazil EP that came out on V Recordings. With summer kicking in over in the Northern Hemisphere I though I might try my hand at a quick Latin mix for all those looking forward to the sunshine.

For me there has always been a fine line between good Latin D&B and pure cheese, so I’ve tried to put together a mix that takes in all that is good about the genre whilst trying to avoid the fromage. Everyone knows Marky and XRS as the Latin D&B masters, but I’ve also tried to get in some lesser known Brazilian producers in here. Plus a few impostors, not from South America, who got the sound right such as Greg Packer, Nu:Tone and John B.

So light the BBQ, get out the spices and salsa and kick back with a hip shaking take on the D&B sound from Latin America.

Fluent Latin – 45 Minute Latin D&B Fiesta

John B – We Like The Music (Latino Remix)
Drumagick – Easy Boom
David W.S. – Talarico
Marky & XRS – LK’
The Mitchell & Dewbury Band feat. Billie Godfrey – Beyond The Rains (Drumagick Radio Edit)
Total Science & MC Conrad – Soul Patrol (Total Science Sunny Side Up Remix feat. Bungle)
Marky & XRS – Rotation (Stress Level & TC1 Remix)
Greg Packer – Be-Bop
Ramilison Maia – Ser
Bebel Gilberto – So Nice (Marky Radio Edit)
Deeper & Pacific feat. Geanine Marques – In The Summer Breeze (Mad Zoo’s Sambass Remix)
Nu:Tone – e.Spresso
David W.S. – Subida Do Morro
M.I.S.T. vs Marky & XRS – Sunshine (Touch Me)
Marky & Makoto – Long Distance
Marky & XRS – Closer

2010, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B

The Nothing – Ear & Drum Session 30

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Remember The Nothing from the Never Ending Story? A huge black mass of clouds that swept across the land and cleared all before it. Well this mix reminded me of this. I’m not normally a hard D&B kind of guy, but I do enjoy mixing the heavier stuff every now and then. Lately as a genre it has been on the improve, producers are dropping the over the top scull stepping for a more junglistic vibe and melody seems to be creeping back into the heavier beats.

The Nothing – 1hr of heavy rain

Ash – Bashment
Nolige – Leave Me
Clive Concept – Out of Control
Breakage – Temper
Mindscape & Munk – Into the Night
Bachelors of Science – Warehouse DayZ
Dub Tao 0 East of Underground (Bungle Remix)
Muffler – Dirrrty
Jubei – Alignment
Antibreak – From the Wreckage
Breakage – Foundation
Maldini & Sylo – Oceanic
Engage – Helium
Royalston – The Test
AK1200 – Juniors Tune (Digital Remix)
Raiden – Aquarius

2010, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Melodic, Minimal

The Stares – Ear & Drum Session 29

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If you’ve had a big Easter like I have, you’ve hit Monday a little bit rinsed out. The concentration isn’t quite there and you find yourself occasionally drifting off and staring into nothing. This set is for all those times when you get ‘the stares’.

The Stares – 1.5hrs of minimal melodies

Abstract Elements – Abysmal Deapths
Calibre – Step Toe
Circa – Ida
June Miller – Converge
Naibu – Far Reaches
Spor – Overdue feat. Tahsa BAxter
Bachelors of Science – 25th Street
Derek, Tonika & Implex – Personal Diving
Paul SG & Caine – Quiet Steps
Kharm – White Picket Fences
Blu Mar Ten – She Moves Through (ASC Remix)
So:Flow – Long Way Over
Dirrrty B & Wreckage Machinery feat. Jett – Autumn Nights (Vocal)
Native – At My Side
Bachelors of Science – Bombay Sapphire
Naibu – Fireflies (Seba Remix)
Camo & Krooked – Time Is Ticking Away feat. Shaz Sparks
Camo & Krooked – Turn Up (The Music)
D.Kay & Mat – Be Free
Lenzman – Fade Away feat. Jo-S
Naibu – Worn Out
Bachelors of Science – Song For Lovers (Dan Harbanam Remix)
Jubie – Patience feat. dBridge
Misanthrop & Phace – My Arae
Rockwell – Tribes
Sabre – Javelin Feat. Alix Perez
Synkro – Depature
Bachelors of Science – The Rush
Adam Form – Halls Shine
Lenzman – Rags to Ritches

All Artist Mix, Amen, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Tech Step

Bring The Noize – Ear & Drum Session 28

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Elementz of Noize are one of those under-rated outfits that slips under the radar mainly due to the fact that they were good at just about every genre they tried there hand at. Alan Clark & Justin Maughan started out making Intelligent drops like the amazing ‘Astral’ and ‘Yes’ in 1995. But as things started turning to the dark side they released a load of classic Tech Step barn stormers on SOUR Recordings. Tunes like ‘Communicate With The World’, ‘Talking Mad Shit’ and thier biggest hit ‘Hit Tha Deck’ were monster Tech Steppers that threw out the subtlety of Ed Rush and replaced it with bitchslapping beats and cavernous b-lines to make dancefloor damage.

After the Tech Step sound died out they moved to Emotiv and had a few releases on Fuze Recordings. Their new sound was still Tech based but had a more stipped back Stepper rhythm. Then in 2002 they returned to their melodic roots with the killer 12″ of ‘Clock/Guided by Lights’, showing that a tune could be musical and still hard as nails. Although they haven’t released much since this time, their legacy is still one of a back catalogue very few misses and a shed load of hits.

Bring The Noize – 1.5hrs of Elementz of Noize

Elementz Of Noize – Yes
Elementz Of Noize – Astral
Elementz Of Noize – Trrriple
Elementz Of Noize – Stick Up
Elementz Of Noize – Neon (Ray Keith Remix)
Elementz Of Noize – Flexiwidatek
Elementz Of Noize – Science
Micro-Burst – Punkmutha
Shapeshifter – Communicate With The World
Shapeshifter – Mass Hysteria
Elementz Of Noize – Hit Tha Deck
Shapeshifter – Talking Mad Shit
Ray Keith – D4 Toxic Waste (Elementz Of Noize Remix)
Elementz Of Noize – Cold Light of Day
Elementz Of Noize – Guided By Lights
Elementz Of Noize – Clock

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)