Category Archives: All Artist Mix

Tru Jungle & Phat Playaz – Ear & Drum Sessions 131 & 132

Welcome to the Ear & Drum’s first double post representing the influential and legendary sound of DJ Hype’s and his seminal label Tru Playaz.

Few labels, if any, have had as many anthems and hits as Tru Playaz. With a roster of incredible production talent like Zinc, Pascal, Swift and DJ Hype himself Playaz owned jungle and jump up through the 90s.

Tru Jungle looks at Hype and Playaz Jungle output from 92-96 and Phat Playaz continues on from 97-00 and is more of a Jump Up selection. These are straight up good times tunes made to get your head nodding and your feet moving and if you don’t recognise any of these tunes then you probably missed the 90s altogether.

6 Million Ways to Die, Rrroll the Beats, The Chopper, We Must Unite, Going Out for the Loot – DJ Hype was on fire during the early days of Jungle not just as a producer but as one of the scenes best DJs as well. Add to that his teaming up with Pascal & Zinc to form the Ganja Kru and you get jungle hit after hit.

Tru Jungle – 1hr of Tru Playaz Jungle Classics

DJ Hype – Weird Energy (Hells Bells Mix)
Uncle 22 – 6 Million Ways to Die (DJ Hype Remix)
DJ Hype – Dreams
Fallen Angels – Hello Lover (DJ Hype Remix)
DJ Hype – Mash Up the Place
DJ Hype – Dawn of the Fever
Hardware – Lix
Hardware – Dreamin’ of You
DJ Hype – Rrroll the Beats
DJ Hype – Rrroll the Beats Remix
DJ Hype – The Chopper (Jonny Jungle Remix)
Ganja Kru – Going Out for the Loot
DJ Hype – We Must Unite
Rude Boy Monty – Steppa’s Anthem (Linerz Mix)
Pascal – Tru Grit
Ganja Kru – Computerised Cops (Pascal’s Mix)
Hmp – Runin’s (Origin Unknown Remix)
P-Funk – Skinz
P-Funk – P-Funk Era
DJ Zinc – The Source

These days Jump Up is a dirty word to most D&B lovers, but back in the day it was THE premier dance floor filler and Tru Playaz were the kings of the dance. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing tunes like Peace, Love and Unity, Super Sharp Shooter, Reach Out or the insanely catchy Fugees bootleg Fugees or Not.

This isn’t music to sit back and stroke your beard to. These are leave your beer on the bar as you tear through the crowd to jump around on the floor like a mad fish tunes. Straight up pure fun and phat bouncing b-lines.

Phat Playaz – 1hr of Tru Playaz Jump Up Anthems

DJ Hype – True Playa’z Anthem
Yankee B – Mucho Dinero (Ganja Kru Remix)
Dope Skills – 6 Million Ways (Remix 1)
DJ Zinc – Toothbrush
DJ Hype – Peace, Love and Unity (feat MC Fats)
Freestyles – Musically Dope (Ganja Kru Remix)
Pascal – Favours
Ganja Kru – Magic
Ganja Kru feat. Rude Boy Monty – Gone are the Days
P-Funk – P-Funk Era (Zinc Remix)
Ganja Kru – Plague that Never Ends
DJ Hype – Only One Life (Ganja Kru Remix)
DJ Zinc feat. MC GQ – Bring the Dancer
DJ Hype – Closer to God
DJ Swift – 2nd Strike
DJ Zinc – Fugees or Not
DJ Zinc – Reach Out (Remix)
DJ Zinc – Super Sharp Shooter (Short & Sharp Mix)
Tribe of Issachar (feat. Peter Bouncer) – Junglist (DJ Zinc Remix)

The Drift – Ear & Drum Session 121

If you asked people to name their favourite D&B albums invariably LTJ Bukem’s Logical Progression pops up. The heavily melodic atmospheric sound is as endearing today as it was when it first came out, and it lives on though labels such as Omni Music and Candence Recordings.

This mix focuses on THAT sound and, in particular, the artists Rainforest and Aural Imbalance. I stumbled upon Rainforest by complete accident, but one listen and I had to track down everything he had written. He’s simply that good.

Aural Imbalance has been producing atmospheric D&B since 1998 and runs Cadence Recordings which is an off shoot of Deep Space Recordings. Both labels focus their sound on the original 1996 Good Looking / Looking Good sound. And it is no surprise he has an early release on 720º, an offshoot of Bukem’s main labels.

If you want to know where atmospheric D&B is today, or just miss the Logical Progression sound, then you could do a lot worse than giving this a listen. Enjoy.

The Drift – 1hr of Atmospheric D&B

Blok One & Rainforest – Delusional
Blok One & Rainforest – 6am
Entomb – Primeval Forest (Aural Imbalance Sub Tropical Remix)
Okie – Project 15
O’clock – Time Stops
Ash Walker – Thunder (feat. Lord Laville)
Entama – Facet
Aural Imbalance & Voyager – Transmission Control
Deep Stealth – Project 15
Deep Stealth – Mystic Realms (Aural Imbalance Remix)
Aural Imbalance – Project 15
Intersolar – Soulshatter (Aural Imbalance Remix)
Deskai – Rest In Peace
Cryogenics – Coalsack
Blok One & Rainforest – Balcony View
Rainforest – Scar(s)
JCB – Project 15
Rainforest – Over The Years
Mitekiss – Dustmites

Sebatical – Ear & Drum Session 118

Sebastian Ahrenberg AKA Seba first came to prominence on LTJ Bukem’s Good Looking label during the 90s. His deep atmospheric sound is unmistakably his own, and for me he is one of D&Bs great unsung heroes. Whether by himself, or teaming up with other technical producers like Paradox or Krazy, Seba has produced a back catalogue most producers simply can’t touch.

I haven’t done an all artist mix for the longest time, but if anyone is going to pull me back into playing a single producer’s work it is Seba. So deep, melodic and hypnotizing – his sound blends so effortlessly that it is a sheer joy to mix.

If you are fan of Seba’s work you’ll love this and if you are new to him, boy are you in for a treat. Enjoy.

Sebatical – 1.5hrs of Seba

Seba – Blaze and Fade Out
Seba – Keep Me Waiting
Seba & Paradox – Move On
Seba – Distance
Seba – Vanity
Seba – What’s You Fantasy
Seba – Nostalgia
Seba & Paradox – Last Goodbye
Seba – Shades of Me & You
Seba – Never Let You Go (Blu Mar Ten Remix)
Seba – Nightrider
Seba – Can’t Describe
Seba – Dangerous Days
Seba – Inside Yourself
Seba – Nothing Can Replace
Seba & Paradox – The Light
Seba – Steel
Seba – Piemo for B
Seba – Blanace of Power
Seba & Krazy – Finola
Seba & Paradox – Because

Klute-aronomy – Ear & Drum Session 94

Those who know my musical taste will know I’m a BIIIG Klute fan. So big in fact I have done a few all Klute mixes down the years (Check them out here) to promote the man’s genius as a producer. It has been a few years since I’ve done an all artist mix, and if anyone was to get me back on the all artist mix train again it would have to be Klute.

His latest album The Draft (Buy it here) is a beautifully crafted & balanced D&B album that demonstrates why he is one of the genres greatest and most consistent producers. There’s a good chunk of that LP in this mix, along with a whole swag of tracks from the last 3-4 years plus a couple of remixes of old classics.

If you dig Klute you’ll dig this. And please, please support the guys Commercial Suicide label by buying tracks from their official online store. The label (and indeed Klute himself) deserve as much support as they can get.

Klute-aronomy – 1.5hrs of Klute

Klute – Sober Light of Day
Klute – We R The Ones (Ulterior Motive Remix)
Klute – Last Words
Klute – Come Back To Me
Mute & Mako – Essential Forms (Klute Remix)
Klute – Media
Klute – Our Pretty Lives
Klute – Take A Breath (Invaders VIP)
Klute – Best Bits Not Over
Klute – Most People Are Dicks
Klute – Sick Drive
Klute & Silent Witness – Friendless
Klute – Ashram
Klute – Will You Still Love
Klute – Party Hands
Klute – Give It All (feat. Naomi Pryor)
Klute – Strnage Dinner
Klute – Birdland
Klute – Turn Around
Tokyo Prose & Phil Tangent – Parity (Klute Remix)
Klute – Divinity
Klute – Hang With Me
Klute – We’re All Dying
Klute – Rosemary
Klute – Revolution
Klute – Haloween
Klute – Trust Me
Klute – Fool’s Love
Klute – The Draft

EZ Rolled – Jungletrain Session 153

Jay Hurren and Alex Banks defined the easy-rolling two-step of Moving Shadow Records during the late ’90s with their recordings as E-Z Rollers, after developing hardcore breakbeats earlier in the decade as JMJ & Richie and Hyper On Experience. Meeting up with vocalist Kelly Richards, Hurren and Banks decided to form E-Z Rollers around the threesome.

Their debut album Dimensions of Sound appeared in mid-1996, followed by several additional singles for Moving Shadow and the full-length follow-ups Weekend World and Titles of the Unexpected. Their huge singles Walk this Land and Tough at the Top are some of the most recognisable singles in D&B due to their hard jazz sound.

While not getting a lot of props these days, they have had a heavy influence on D&B and I especially respect their early works. I’ll always have a soft spot for their additions to the Moving Shadow catalogue and hope their future releases live up to the past.

EZ Rolled – 1hr of EZ Rollers

E-Z Rollers – You’ll Never Know
E-Z Rollers – Rolled Into 1 (Photek Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Droppin Science Pt.2 (E-Z Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Retro
E-Z Rollers – Movin’ Target
Omni Trio – Where Are You (E-Z Rollers Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Tough at the Top (Origin Unknown Remix)
E-Z Rollers – RS2000
E-Z Rollers – Weekend World (Calyx Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Walk This Land (Paradise Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Half a Chance
E-Z Rollers – Believe (Marky & XRS Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Tough at the Top (E-Z Rollers Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Rolled Into 1 (E-Z Rollers Remix)
E-Z Rollers – Dust

L Boh – Jungletrain Session 167

Jonny L is an aquired taste and not being a big fan of Piper when it first hit I took a little while to fully appreciate just what a talent he really is. From the sparceness of the beat in ‘Hardcore’, to the hidden funk in ‘Wish U Had Something (Remix)’ and the step-notic rhythm of Piper, Jonny L gets away with a simplicity other producers can only dream of.

His production career has spanned 18 years and not only was he signed to the mighty XL Records during their heyday, but he has also produced for Dane Bowers, Posh Spice and surprisingly S Club. Despite this his albums Sawtooth and Magnetic are some of D&B’s most original and famous solo albums ever. Jonny L now goes under the guise of Mr L and his label Mr L Records is still releasing quality stripped back tunes.

L Boh – 1hr of Jonny L

Jonny L – I Let U
Jonny L – Techonic Cycle
Jonny L – Treading
Jonny L – See Red
Jonny L – Piper (Grooverider Mix)
Jonny L – Wish U Had Something (Remix)
Jonny L – Change
Jonny L – The Bells
Jonny L – Camouflage
Jonny L – Trouble
Jonny L – Let’s Roll
Jonny L – Part of U
Jonny L – Piper (The Clone)
Jonny L – Turn Up the Bass
Nasty Habits – Shadow Boxing (Jonny L Mix)
Jonny L – Hard Core

Finely Calibrated – Jungletrain Session 166

Calibre’s finely tuned sense of melody and bass is something that steps him apart from his contemporaries. A master of liquid beats and grooves, very few producers can strip back a tune to just it’s bare elements and still keep the impact that Calibre does.

A prolific producer he drops albums almost bi-annually whilst still releasing strings of singles. He has appeared on just about every liquid label you would ever want to be on including Soul:R, Creative Source, Phuturo, Exit, V, Hospital and many others. His own Signature label releases just Calibre tunes, including the mighty Shelflife I & II and Overflow albums.

I have a lot of time and respect for Calibre. He isn’t the worlds most inovative producer, but he has spent years forging and perfecting his own sound. What he does, he does better than anyone else out there. So strap yourself in and get ready to have your head massaged by the mighty Calibre.

Finely Calibrated – 1hr celebrating the genius of Calibre

Calibre – Crazy
Calibre – Like It Is
Calibre – Bullets featuring Diane Charlemange
Calibre – Deranged
Calibre – Late Night Squeeze
Calibre – Turn Around
Calibre – Drop it Down featuring Singing Fats
Calibre – Things A Re-Arranging
Calibre – Always
Calibre – One Word
Calibre – It’s
Calibre – Film feat. Slarta Jon (Calibre Dub)
Calibre – Time & Space
Calibre & High Contrast – Mr Majestic
Calibre – Inflicted

Urban D.Kay – Jungletrain Session 182

D.Kay has been one of the most consistent and diverse producers in D&B over the last decade. He can pump out quality tracks across all genres and rightly so has been recognised by some of the scenes biggest labels. As well as his own two labels, Illskillz Recordings and Brigand he has appeared on Metalheadz, Hospital, Exit, C.I.A., Soul:R, Bingo and whole host of other labels.

This mix was done back in 2008 so it doesn’t cover a lot of his most recent output. However it is a good selection of his earlier output including tracks from his stunning Individual Soul album which is a highly under-rated classic.

Urban D.Kay – 1hr of classic cuts from D.Kay

D Kay – Rain
D Kay – Devotion
D Kay – Serenade
D Kay – Interlude
D Kay & Lee – One Nation
D Kay & Epsilon – Barcelona (High Contrast Remix)
London Elektricity – Out of This World (D Kay Remix)
D Kay – Planet Music
D Kay – Tuning
D.Kay & Kasra_- Spider
D Kay & Epsilon – Platinum
D Kay & Lee – Wax’d
D Kay & Lee – Desire
D Kay & Rawfull – B There 4 U
D Kay & Blacksun Empire – Bullet In The Head

Bring The Noize – Ear & Drum Session 28

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

Fricken Genius – Jungletrain Session 127

Once upon a time a long time ago, producers didn’t just write choons that made you jump up and down. They also made tracks that took you on a journey, made your jaw drop and shit the bed all at once.

One such producer was T-Power, and this is his story.

 

Fricken Genius – 1hr of early T-Power classics.

T-Power – Indigo
T-Power – Liberation
T-Power – Octagon/Triangle
T-Power – Mutant Jazz
T-Power – Circle
T-Power – Turquoise
T-Power – The Elemental (Sociopathic Mix)
T-Power – Amber
T-Power – Square
T-Power – Prospect for Democracy
T-Power – Symbiosis
T-Power – Bionic Chronic